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SELECTIONS    FROM    THE 
"GESTA   ROMANORUM" 


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757  copies  of  this  edition  are  printed 
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Copyright,  igo$ 
By  Nathan  Haskell  Dole 


HENRY  MORSE  STEFHEMS 


INTRODUCTION 

The  so-called  Gesta  Romanorum  — 
the  Gests  or  Acts  of  the  Romans  — 
consists  of  a  collection  of  l8i  stories, 
first  printed  in  1473.  Their  popularity  in 
the  Middle  Ages  is  shown  by  the  fact 
that  numerous  manuscripts,  all  varying 
in  content  and  size,  are  found  in  various 
parts  of  Europe.  Wynkyn  de  Worde, 
Caxton's  apprentice,  who  flourished  be- 
tween 149 1  and  1535,  included  among 
his  four  hundred  printed  books  a  small 
quarto,  undated,  which  contained  forty- 
three  chapters  or  stories,  translated  into 
the  quaint  and  stilted  English  of  his  day. 
There  were  other  versions  of  the  English 
manuscripts  of  not  more  than  sixty 
chapters,  but  not  until  1824  was  any 
attempt  made  to  give  the  complete  work 
in  modern  style.  The  translation  then 
i 


f/^ 


€3^-23 


513420 


published  in  two  volumes  was  by  the 
Rev.  Charles  Swan,  who  prefixed  a  some- 
what elaborate  introduction,  showing  that 
a  great  deal  of  the  "  Romantic  Fabling  " 
of  the  Middle  Ages  was  due  to  the  Cru- 
saders bringing  back  with  them  Oriental 
tales.  The  monks,  desirous  of  impress- 
ing their  illiterate  hearers,  employed  sto- 
ries of  Eastern,  classical,  and  legendary 
origin  to  illustrate  their  sermons.  Char- 
acteristic of  all  the  Gesta  Romanorum  is 
the  often  far-fetched  and  absurd  "  mor- 
alization "  appended.  There  was  no 
attempt  to  teach  history  or  geography, 
or  to  avoid  anachronisms.  The  perfect 
naivete  of  the  narration  is  delightful ; 
marvels  are  included  with  all  the  sol- 
emnity of  a  mediaeval  Bestiary  j  countries 
and  cities  are  jumbled  together  with  an 
indeterminateness  worthy  of  a  candidate 
for  a  civil  service  position ;  royal  titles 
are  applied  to  the  men  of  common  clay, 
and  the  queerest  standards  of  morals  are 
inculcated. 

Nevertheless,  the  stories  are  often  of 
striking    interest    and    vivacity.      Who 
their  original  author  or  authors  may  have 
ii 


been  is  wholly  a  matter  of  conjecture. 
But  later  writers  have  freely  used  this 
storehouse  of  suggestion  for  more  care- 
fully elaborated  novels  or  more  consist- 
ently dramatic  works.  Many  of  them 
were  used  by  Shakespeare,  and  the  in- 
quisitive reader  may  like  to  compare  the 
first  and  longest  tale  in  the  present  selec- 
tion with  the  tragedy  of  "  Pericles, 
Prince  of  Tyre." 

The  chapters  here  printed  are  taken 
from  the  revised  edition  of  Swan's  trans- 
lation.    The  morals  are  omitted,    j 


111 


GESTA    ROMANORUM 


Antiochus,  the  king  of  Antioch  (from 
whom  the  city  takes  its  name),  had  a 
daughter  of  such  uncommon  beauty,  that 
when  she  came  of  marriageable  years, 
she  was  sought  after  with  the   greatest 

5 


eagerness.  But  on  whom  to  bestow  her 
was*  a  source  of  much  anxiety  to  the 
king;  and,  from  frequently  contemplat- 
ing the  exquisite  loveliness  of  her  face, 
the  delicacy  of  her  form,  and  the  excel- 
lence of  her  disposition,  he  began  to  love 
her  with  more  than  a  father's  love.  He 
burned  with  an  unhallowed  flame,  and 
would  have  excited  a  simultaneous  feel- 
ing in  his  daughter. 

She,  however,  courageously  persevered 
in  the  path  of  duty,  until  at  length  vio- 
lence accomplished  what  persuasion  had 
in  vain  struggled  to  effect.  Thus  situ- 
ated, she  gave  a  loose  to  her  tears,  and 
wept  in  an  agony  of  the  bitterest  sorrow. 
At  this  moment  her  nurse  entered,  and 
asked  the  occasion  of  her  uneasiness; 
she  replied,  "Alas,  my  beloved  nurse, 
two  noble  names  have  just  perished." 

"Dear  lady,"  returned  the  other, 
*'  why  do  you  say  so  ? " 

She  told  her. 

"  And  what  accursed  demon  has  been 
busy  ?  "  asked  the  nurse. 

"  Where,"  replied  the  lady,  "  where 
is  my  father  ?  I  have  no  father ;  in  me 
6 


that  sacred  name  has  perished.  But 
death  is  a  remedy  for  all,  and  I  will  die." 

The  nurse,  alarmed  at  what  she  heard, 
soothed  her  into  a  less  desperate  mood, 
and  engaged  her  word  not  to  seek  so 
fearful  a  relief. 

In  the  mean  time  the  impious  parent, 
assuming  the  specious  garb  of  hypocrisy, 
exhibited  to  the  citizens  the  fair  example 
of  an  honest  life.  In  secret  he  exulted 
at  the  success  of  his  iniquity,  and  re- 
flected upon  the  best  means  of  freeing 
his  unhappy  daughter  from  the  numerous 
suitors  who  honourably  desired  her  hand. 
To  effect  this,  he  devised  a  new  scheme 
of  wickedness.  He  proposed  certain 
questions,  and  annexed  to  them  a  condi- 
tion, by  which  whosoever  furnished  an 
appropriate  answer  should  espouse  the 
lady ;  but  failing,  should  be  instantly  de- 
capitated. A  multitude  of  crowned  heads 
from  every  quarter,  attracted  by  her  un- 
matchable  beauty,  presented  themselves ; 
but  they  were  all  put  to  death.  For,  if 
any  one  chanced  to  develop  the  horrid 
secret,  he  was  slain  equally  with  him 
who  failed,  in  order  to  prevent  its  being 
7 


divulged.  Then  the  head  of  the  victim 
blackened  upon  the  gate.  The  suitors, 
therefore,  naturally  grew  less;  for,  per- 
ceiving so  many  ghastly  countenances 
peering  above  them,  their  courage  quailed, 
and  they  returned  hastily  to  their  several 
homes. 

Now,  all  this  was  done  that  he  who 
had  produced  this  scene  of  wickedness 
might  continue  in  uninterrupted  posses- 
sion. After  a  short  time,  the  young 
prince  of  Tyre,  named  Apollonius,  well- 
lettered  and  rich,  sailing  along  the  coast, 
disembarked  and  entered  Antioch.  Ap- 
proaching the  royal  presence,  he  said, 

"  Hail,  oh  king !  I  seek  thy  daughter 
in  marriage." 

The  king  unwillingly  heard  him  com- 
municate his  wishes,  and  fixing  an  ear- 
nest look  upon  the  young  man,  said, 

"  Dost  thou  know  the  conditions  ?  " 

"  I  do,"  answered  he  boldly,  "  and 
find  ample  confirmation  at  your  gates." 

The  king,  enraged  at  his  firmness,  re- 
turned, "  Hear,  then,  the  question  — '  I 
am  transported  with  wickedness ;  I  live 
upon  my  mother's  flesh.  I  seek  my 
8 


brother,  and  find  him  not  in  the  off- 
spring of  my  mother/  " 

The  youth  received  the  question,  and 
went  from  the  presence  of  the  king ;  and 
after  duly  considering  the  matter,  by  the 
good  providence  of  God,  discovered  a 
solution.  He  immediately  returned,  and 
addressing  the  incestuous  wretch,  said, 

"  Thou  hast  proposed  a  question,  oh 
king!  attend  my  answer.  Thou  hast 
said,  *'  I  am  transported  with  wickedness^ 
and  thou  hast  not  lied:  look  into  thy 
heart.  '  /  live  upon  my  mother's  fleshy  — 
look  upon  thy  daughter." 

The  king,  hearing  this  explication  of 
the  riddle,  and  fearing  the  discovery  of 
his  enormities,  regarded  him  with  a  wrath- 
ful eye. 

"  Young  man,"  said  he,  "  thou  art 
far  from  the  truth,  and  deservest  death ; 
but  I  will  yet  allow  thee  the  space  of 
thirty  days.  Recollect  thyself.  In  the 
mean  while,  return  to  thy  own  coun- 
try :  if  thou  findest  a  solution  to  the 
enigma,  thou  shalt  marry  my  daughter : 
if  not  thou  shalt  die." 

The  youth,  much  disturbed,  called  his 
9 


company  together,  and  hastening  on 
board  his  own  vessel,  immediately  set 
sail. 

No  sooner  had  he  departed,  than  the 
king  sent  for  his  steward,  whose  name 
was  Taliarchus,  and  spoke  to  him  in 
this  manner : 

"  Taliarchus,  you  are  the  most  faith- 
ful repository  of  my  secrets ;  you  know, 
therefore,  that  the  Prince  ApoUonius  of 
Tyre  has  found  out  my  riddle.  Pursue 
him  instantly  to  Tyre,  and  destroy  him 
either  with  the  sword  or  with  poison. 
When  you  return,  you  shall  receive  a 
liberal  recompense." 

Taliarchus,  arming  himself,  and  pro- 
viding a  sum  of  money,  sailed  into  the 
country  of  the  young  man. 


10 


II. 


When  Apollonius  reached  his  own 
home,  he  opened  his  coffers,  and  searched 
a  variety  of  books  upon  the  subject  in 
question,  but  he  still  adhered  to  the  same 
idea. 

"  Unless  I  am  much  deceived,"  said 
he  to  himself,  "  King  Antiochus  enter- 
tains an  impious  love  for  his  daughter." 
And  continuing  his  reflections,  he  went 
on,  "  What  art  thou  about,  Apollonius  ? 
thou  hast  resolved  his  problem,  and  still 
he  has  not  given  thee  his  daughter. 
Therefore,  God  will  not  have  thee  die." 
II 


Commanding  his  ships  to  be  got 
ready,  and  laden  with  a  hundred  thou- 
sand measures  of  corn,  and  a  great  weight 
of  gold  and  silver,  with  many  changes 
of  garments,  he  hastily  embarked  during 
the  night,  in  company  with  a  few  faith- 
ful followers.  They  put  to  sea  immedi- 
ately; and  much  wonder  and  regret 
arose  the  next  day  among  the  citizens 
respecting  him.  For  he  was  greatly 
beloved  amongst  them;  and  such  was 
their  sorrow,  that  the  barbers,  for  a 
length  of  time,  lost  all  their  occupation ; 
public  spectacles  were  forbidden;  the 
baths  were  closed,  and  no  one  entered 
either  the  temples  or  tabernacles. 

While  these  things  were  going  on, 
Taliarchus,  who  had  been  despatched  by 
Antiochus  to  destroy  the  prince,  observ- 
ing every  house  shut  up,  and  the  signs 
of  mourning  general,  asked  a  boy  the 
occasion  of  it. 

"  Sir,"  replied  he, ''  are  you  ignorant  of 
this  matter,  that  you  ask  me  ?  Under- 
stand, then,  that  Apollonius,  prince  of  this 
country,  having  returned  from  a  visit  to 
King  Antiochus,  is  nowhere  to  be  found." 
12 


Much  rejoiced  at  what  he  heard,  Tal- 
iarchus  returned  to  his  vessel,  and  sailed 
back  again  to  his  own  country.  Pre- 
senting himself  to  the  king,  he  exclaimed, 

"  Be  happy,  my  lord ;  ApoUonius, 
through  dread  of  you,  is  not  to  be  found 
anywhere." 

"  He  has  fled,"  returned  the  king ; 
"but  long  he  shall  not  escape  me." 
And  he  immediately  put  forth  an  edict 
to  this  effect : 

"Whosoever  brings  before  me  the 
traitor  ApoUonius  shall  receive  fifty  tal- 
ents of  gold ;  but  whosoever  presents  me 
with  his  head  shall  be  rewarded  with  a 
hundred." 

This  tempting  proposal  stimulated 
not  only  his  enemies,  but  his  pretended 
friends,  to  follow  him,  and  many  dedi- 
cated their  time  and  activity  to  the  pur- 
suit. They  traversed  sea  and  land,  near 
and  remote  countries,  but  he  fortu- 
nately escaped  their  search.  The  mali- 
cious king  fitted  out  a  navy  for  the  same 
purpose,  and  commanded  them  to  pro- 
ceed with  the  utmost  diligence  in  their 
employment. 

^3 


Apollonius,  however,  arrived  safely 
at  Tharsus,  and  walking  along  the  shore, 
he  was  distinguished  by  a  certain  slave 
of  his  own  household,  called  Elinatus, 
who  happened  that  very  hour  to  have 
reached  it.  Approaching,  he  made  obei- 
sance to  the  prince,  and  Apollonius, 
recognizing  him,  returned  his  salute  as 
great  men  are  wont  to  do;  for  he 
thought  him  contemptible. 

The  old  man,  indignant  at  his  re- 
ception, again  saluted  him,  "  Hail, 
King  Apollonius !  Return  my  salute, 
and  despise  not  poverty,  if  it  be  orna- 
mented by  honest  deeds.  Did  you 
know  what  I  know,  you  would  be 
cautious." 

"  May  it  please  you  to  tell  me  what 
you  know  ?  "  answered  the  prince. 

"You  are  proscribed,"  returned  the 
other. 

"And  who  shall  dare  proscribe  a 
prince  in  his  own  land  ?  " 

"  Antiochus  has  done  it." 

"  Antiochus  !     For  what  cause  ?  " 

"  Because  you  sought  to  be  what  the 
father  of  his  daughter  is." 
14 


"  And  what  is  the  price  of  my  proscrip- 
tion ? " 

"  He  who  shall  take  you  alive  is  to 
receive  fifty  talents  of  gold ;  but  for 
your  head  he  will  have  a  hundred.  And 
therefore  I  caution  you  to  be  upon  your 
guard." 

Saying  this,  Elinatus  went  his  way. 
Apollonius  recalled  him,  and  proffered 
the  hundred  talents  of  gold  which  had 
been  set  upon  his  head. 

"Take,"  said  he,  "so  much  of  my 
poverty;  thou  hast  merited  it:  cut  off 
my  head,  and  gratify  the  malicious  king. 
You  possess  the  sum,  and  still  you  are 
innocent.  I  engage  you,  therefore,  of 
my  own  free  will,  to  do  so  great  a 
pleasure  to  him  who  seeks  my  destruc- 
tion." 

"  My  lord,"  answered  the  old  man, 
*'  far  be  it  from  me  to  take  away  your 
life  for  hire ;  the  friendship  of  good  men 
is  of  more  value,  and  cannot  be  bought." 

Then,  returning  thanks  to  the  prince 
for  his  munificence,  he  departed.  But  as 
Apollonius  tarried  on  the  shore,  he  per- 
ceived    a     person     named     Stranguilio 

IS 


approaching  him  with  a  sorrowful  aspect, 
and  every  now  and  then  uttering  a  deep 
lament. 

"  Hail,  Stranguilio  !  "  said  the  prince. 

"  Hail,  my  lord  the  king ! "  was  his 
reply.  ''You  appear  concerned;  tell 
me  what  occasions  it  ?  " 

"  To  say  truth,"  returned  Apollonius, 
"it  is  because  I  have  required  the 
daughter  of  a  king  in  marriage.  Can  I 
conceal  myself  in  your  country  ?  " 

"  My  lord,"  answered  Stranguilio, 
*'  our  city  is  extremely  poor,  and  cannot 
sustain  your  attendants,  in  consequence 
of  a  grievous  famine  which  has  wasted 
the  land.  Our  citizens  are  hopeless  and 
helpless ;  and  death,  with  all  its  accom- 
panying horrors,  is  before  our  eyes." 

"  Give  thanks  to  God,"  replied  Apol- 
lonius, "  who  hath  driven  me  a  fugitive 
to  your  shores.  If  you  will  conceal  my 
flight,  I  will  present  to  you  a  hundred 
thousand  measures  of  corn." 

Full  of  joy,  Stranguilio  prostrated 
himself  at  the  feet  of  the  prince,  and 
exclaimed, 

"My  lord,  if  you  will  assist  our 
i6 


starving  city  we  will  not  only  conceal 
your  flight,  but,  if  necessary,  unsheath 
our  swords  in  your  defence." 

Apollonius,  therefore,  hastened  into 
the  forum,  and  ascending  the  tribunal, 
spoke  thus  to  the  assembled  population  : 
"  Men  of  Tharsus,  understanding  that 
an  afflicting  dearth  of  provisions  troubles 
you,  I,  Apollonius,  proffer  aid.  I  believe 
that  you  will  not  forget  the  benefit  I 
render  you,  but  conceal  my  flight  from 
those  who  unjustly  pursue  me.  Ye 
know  what  the  malice  of  Antiochus  aims 
at,  and  by  what  providence  I  am  brought 
hither  to  relieve  you  in  this  terrible 
emergency.  I  present  to  you  a  hundred 
thousand  measures  of  corn  at  the  price  I 
gave  for  it  in  my  own  country  —  that  is, 
at  eight  pieces  for  each  measure." 

The  citizens,  delighted  at  what  they 
heard,  gave  thanks  to  God,  and  imme- 
diately prepared  the  corn  for  use. 

But  Apollonius,  not  forgetting  the 
dignity  of  a  king  in  the  traffic  of  a 
merchant,  returned  the  purchase-money 
to  the  state ;  and  the  people,  struck  with 
wonder  at  this  unexpected  instance  of 
17 


generosity,  erected  in  the  forum  a  chariot 
drawn  by  four  horses,  running  side  by 
side.  In  the  car  was  a  statue,  represent- 
ing Apollonius  with  his  right  hand  rub- 
bing the  corn  from  the  ear.  His  left  foot 
trampled  upon  it ;  and  on  the  pediment 
they  placed  the  following  inscription  :  — 
"  Apollonius,  Prince  of  Tyre,  by  a 

GIFT  TO  THE  CITY  OF  ThARSUS,  PRE- 
SERVED ITS  INHABITANTS  FROM  A  CRUEL 
DEATH." 


i8 


III. 


A  FEW  days  afterwards,  by  the  advice 
of  Stranguilio  and  his  wife  Dionysias, 
the  prince  determined  to  sail  for  Penta- 
polis,  a  city  of  the  Tyrrheni,  where  he 
might  remain  in  greater  tranquillity  and 
opulence.  They  brought  him,  therefore, 
with  much  ceremony  to  the  sea-shore; 
and  then  bidding  his  hosts  farewell,  he 
embarked. 

For  three  days  and  nights  he  sailed 
19 


with  favourable  winds ;  but  after  losing 
sight  of  the  Tharsian  coast,  they  veered 
round,  and  blew  from  the  north  with 
great  violence.  The  rain  fell  in  heavy 
showers,  mixed  with  hail ;  and  the  ship 
was  carried  away  by  the  fury  of  the 
storm.  Dark  clouds  brooded  over  them  ; 
and  the  blast,  still  increasing,  threatened 
them  with  immediate  death.  The  crew, 
imagining  all  was  lost,  caught  hold  of 
planks,  and  committed  themselves  to  the 
mercy  of  the  waves.  In  the  extreme 
darkness  that  followed,  all  perished. 
But  ApoUonius,  riding  on  a  plank,  was 
cast  upon  the  Pentapolitan  shore;  on 
which,  after  quitting  the  water,  he  stood 
thoughtfully,  and  fixing  his  eyes  upon 
the  ocean,  now  in  a  calm,  exclaimed, 

"  Oh,  ye  faithless  waves !  better  had 
I  fallen  into  the  hands  of  that  savage 
king !  —  to  whom  shall  I  now  go  ? 
What  country  shall  I  seek  ?  Who  will 
afford  succour  to  an  unknown  and  help- 
less stranger  ? " 

As  he  spoke  this,  he  beheld  a  young 
man  coming  towards  him.  He  was  a 
robust,  hard-favoured  fisherman,  clad  in 
20 


a  coarse  frock.  ApoUonius,  driven  by 
his  distresses,  humbly  besought  this 
man's  assistance,  even  with  tears  starting 
from  his  eyes. 

"  Pity  me,"  said  he,  "  whosoever  thou 
art ;  pity  a  man  stripped  of  all  by  ship- 
wreck —  one  to  whom  better  days  have 
been  familiar,  and  who  is  descended  from 
no  ignoble  family.  But  that  you  may 
know  whom  you  succour,  understand 
that  I  am  a  prince  of  Tyre,  and  that  my 
name  is  ApoUonius.  Save,  then,  my 
life,  I  entreat  you." 

The  fisherman,  compassionating  his 
sufferings,  brought  him  to  his  own  roof, 
and  placed  such  as  he  had  before  him. 
And  that  there  might  be  no  deficiency  in 
the  charitable  part  he  was  acting,  he 
divided  his  cloak,  and  gave  one-half  to 
the  stranger. 

"Take,"  said  the  benevolent  man, 
"  take  what  I  can  give,  and  go  into  the 
city;  there,  perhaps,  you  will  find  one 
with  more  power  to  serve  you  than  I 
am.  If  you  are  unsuccessful  in  your 
search,  return  hither  to  me.  What 
poverty  can  provide  you  shall  share. 
21 


Yet,  should  you  hereafter  be  restored  to 
your  throne,  do  not  forget  or  despise  the 
coarse,  threadbare  cloak  of  the  poor 
fisherman." 

"  Fear  not,"  said  Apollonius ;  "  should 
I  prove  ungrateful  may  I  be  shipwrecked 
again,  nor  find  in  my  extremity  a  man  like 
yourself." 

As  he  spoke,  the  fisherman  pointed 
out  the  way  to  the  city  gates,  which 
Apollonius  shortly  entered. 

Whilst  he  reflected  upon  the  path  he 
should  pursue,  he  beheld  a  naked  boy 
running  along  the  street,  having  his  head 
anointed  with  oil,  and  bound  with  a  nap- 
kin.    The  youth  lustily  vociferated, 

*'  Hear,  hear,  pilgrims  or  slaves ;  who- 
soever would  be  washed,  let  him  haste 
to  the  gymnasium." 

Apollonius,  according  to  the  procla- 
mation, entered  the  bath,  and  pulling  off 
his  cloak,  made  use  of  the  water.  Whilst 
he  was  doing  this,  he  cast  his  eyes  around 
to  discover  some  one  of  an  equality  with 
himself;  and  at  last  Altistrates,  king  of 
all  that  country,  entered  with  a  troop  of 
his   attendants.     The  king  played  with 

22 


them  at  tennis  -,  and  Apollonius  running 
forward,  caught  up  the  ball,  and  striking 
it  with  inconceivable  skill  and  rapidity, 
returned  it  to  the  royal  player.  The 
king,  motioning  to  his  servants,  said, 

"  Give  up  your  sport,  give  up  your 
sport ;  for  I  suspect  this  youth  is  as  good 
a  player  as  I  am." 

Apollonius,  flattered  by  this  praise,  ap- 
proached the  king,  and  catching  up  an 
unguent,  with  a  dexterous  hand  anointed 
the  king's  body.  Then,  having  grate- 
fully administered  a  bath,  he  departed. 
After  he  was  gone,  "  I  swear  to  you," 
said  his  majesty  to  his  surrounding 
friends,  "that  I  have  never  bathed  so 
agreeably  as  I  have  done  to-day  by  the 
kindness  of  a  youth  whom  I  do  not 
know.  Go,"  added  he,  to  one  of  the 
attendants,  "  go,  and  inquire  who  he  is." 

He  followed  accordingly,  and  beheld 
him  equipped  in  the  mean  cloak  received 
from  the  fisherman.  Returning  to  the 
king,  he  said,  "The  youth  is  one  who 
has  suffered  shipwreck." 

"  How  do  you  know  ?  "  replied  he. 

"The  man  said  nothing,"  answered 

?3 


the  servant,  "but  his  dress  pointed  out 
his  circumstances." 

"Go  quickly,"  returned  the  king, 
"  and  say  that  I  entreat  him  to  sup  with 
me. 

Apollonius  was  content,  and  accom- 
panied the  servant  back.  The  latter, 
approaching  the  sovereign,  stated  the  re- 
turn of  the  shipwrecked  person,  but  that, 
ashamed  of  his  mean  habit,  he  was  un- 
willing to  enter.  The  king  instantly 
gave  command  that  he  should  be  clothed 
in  honourable  apparel,  and  introduced  to 
the  supper-room. 

Apollonius  therefore  entered  the  royal 
drawing-room,  and  was  placed  opposite 
to  the  king.  Dinner  was  brought,  and 
then  supper.  He  feasted  not,  however, 
with  the  feasters,  but  continually  cast 
his  eye  upon  the  gold  and  silver  orna- 
ments of  the  table,  and  wept.  One  of 
the  guests  observing  this,  said  to  the  king, 

"  He  envies  your  regal  magnificence, 
unless  I  am  much  deceived." 

"You  suspect  unhappily,"  answered 
he ;  "  he  does  not  envy  me,  but  laments 
somewhat  that  he  has  lost." 

?4 


Then,  turning  to  Apollonius,  with  a 
smiling  countenance  he  said,  "  Young 
man,  feast  with  us  to-day,  and  hope 
that  God  has  better  things  in  store  for 
you." 

As  he  thus  endeavoured  to  raise  the 
drooping  spirits  of  the  youth,  his  daugh- 
ter, a  beautiful  girl,  entered,  and  first 
kissed  her  father,  and  then  those  who 
were  his  guests.  When  she  had  gone 
through  this  ceremony,  she  returned  to 
the  king,  and  said, 

"  My  dear  father,  who  is  that  young 
man  reclining  opposite  to  you  in  the 
place  of  honour,  and  whose  grief  appears 
so  excessive  ? " 

''  Sweet  daughter,"  answered  he,  "  that 
is  a  shipwrecked  youth,  who  pleased  me 
to-day  in  the  gymnasium ;  therefore  I 
invited  him  to  supper;  but  who  he  is  I 
know  not.  If  you  wish  to  ascertain 
this,  ask  him  —  it  becomes  you  to  know 
all  things;  and  perhaps,  when  you  are 
made  acquainted  with  his  sorrows,  you 
may  compassionate  and  relieve  them." 

The  girl,  happy  in  the  permission,  ap- 
proached the  young  man,  and  said, 
25 


"  Good  friend,  kindness  proves  nobil- 
ity :  if  it  be  not  troublesome,  tell  me 
your  name  and  fortunes." 

*'  Would  you  inquire  my  name  ?  "  re- 
plied he :  "I  lost  it  in  the  sea ;  or  my 
nobility  ?     I  left  it  in  Tyre." 

"  Speak  intelligibly,"  said  the  girl ;  and 
ApoUonius  then  related  his  name  and 
adventures.  When  he  had  made  an  end 
he  wept,  and  the  king,  perceiving  his 
tears,  said  to  his  daughter, 

"  My  dear  child,  you  did  ill  to  inquire 
the  name  and  occurrences  of  the  young 
man's  life.  You  have  renewed  his  past 
griefs.  But  since  he  has  revealed  the 
truth,  it  is  right  that  you  should  show 
the  liberty  you  enjoy  as  queen." 

The  lady  complied  with  the  wishes  of 
her  father,  and  looking  upon  the  youth, 
exclaimed,  "  You  are  our  knight,  Apol- 
lonius !  Put  away  your  afflictions,  and 
my  father  will  make  you  rich." 

ApoUonius  thanked  her  with  modesty 
and  lamentation.  Then  said  the  king, 
"  Bring  hither  your  lyre,  and  add  song  to 
the  banquet."  She  commanded  the  in- 
strument to  be  brought,  and  began  to 
26 


touch  it  with  infinite  sweetness.  Ap- 
plause followed  the  performance. 

"  There  never  was,"  said  the  courtiers, 
"  a  better  or  a  sweeter  song."  Apollo- 
nius  alone  was  silent,  and  his  want  of 
politeness  drew  from  the  king  a  remark. 

"You  do  an  unhandsome  thing. 
Everybody  else  extols  my  daughter's 
musical  skill;  why  then  do  you  only 
discommend  it  ? " 

"  Most  gracious  king,"  replied  he, 
"  permit  me  to  say  what  I  think.  Your 
daughter  comes  near  to  musical  preemi- 
nence, but  has  not  yet  attained  it.  Com- 
mand, therefore,  a  lyre  to  be  given  me, 
and  you  shall  then  know  what  you  are 
now  ignorant  of." 

"  I  perceive,"  observed  the  king, "  that 
you  are  universally  learned,"  and  directed 
a  lyre  to  be  presented  to  him.  ApoUo- 
nius  retired  for  a  few  moments,  and  dec- 
orated his  head;  then,  reentering  the 
dining-room,  he  took  the  instrument, 
and  struck  it  so  gracefully  and  delight- 
fully that  they  unanimously  agreed  that 
it  was  the  harmony  not  of  Apollonius, 
but  of  Apollo. 

27 


The  guests  positively  asserted  that 
they  never  heard  or  saw  anything  better ; 
and  the  daughter,  regarding  the  youth 
with  fixed  attention,  grew  suddenly  and 
violently  enamoured. 

"  Oh,  my  father,"  cried  she,  "  let  me 
reward  him  as  I  think  fit." 

The  king  assented ;  and  she,  looking 
tenderly  upon  the  youth,  said, 

"  Sir  Apollonius,  receive  out  of  my 
royal  father's  munificence  two  hundred 
talents  of  gold  and  four  hundred  pounds 
of  silver,  a  rich  garment,  twenty  men- 
servants,  and  ten  handmaids;"  then, 
turning  to  the  attendants  present,  she 
continued,  "  Bring  what  I  have  prom- 
ised." Her  commands  were  obeyed ;  and 
the  guests  then  rising,  received  permis- 
sion to  depart. 

When  they  were  gone,  Apollonius 
also  arose,  and  said, 

"  Excellent  king,  pitier  of  the  dis- 
tressed !  and  you,  O  queen,  lover  of 
study  and  friend  of  philosophy,  fare  ye 
well."  Then  addressing  the  servants 
bestowed  upon  him,  he  commanded  them 
to  bear  away  the  presents  he  had  re- 
28 


ceived  to  an  hostelry ;  but  the  girl,  who 
became  apprehensive  of  losing  her  lover, 
looked  sorrowfully  at  her  parent,  and 
said, 

"  Best  king  and  father,  does  it  please 
you  that  ApoUonius,  whom  we  have  so 
lately  enriched,  should  leave  us  ?  The 
goods  we  have  given  him  will  be  pur- 
loined by  wicked  men." 

The  king  admitted  this,  and  assigned 
him  apartments  in  the  palace,  where  he 
lived  in  great  honour. 

But  the  lady's  affection  so  much  in- 
creased, that  it  deprived  her  of  all  rest ; 
and  in  the  morning  she  hastened  to  the 
bedside  of  her  father.  Surprised  at  the 
early  visit,  he  inquired  what  had  roused 
her  at  so  unusual  an  hour. 

*'I  have  been  unable  to  sleep,"  an- 
swered the  lady ;  "  and  I  wish  you  to 
permit  me  to  receive  instructions  in  music 
from  the  young  stranger." 

The  king,  pleased  with  his  daughter's 
zeal  for  improvement,  cheerfully  as- 
sented, and  commanded  the  youth  to  be 
brought  into  his  presence. 

"  ApoUonius,"  said  he,  "  my  daughter 
29 


is  extremely  desirous  of  learning  your 
science ;  if  you  will  instruct  her,  I  will 
reward  you  abundantly." 

"  My  lord,"  he  answered,  "  I  am 
ready  to  comply  with  your  wishes;" 
and,  accordingly,  the  girl  was  placed 
under  his  tuition.  But  her  love  preyed 
upon  her  health,  and  she  visibly  declined. 
Physicians  were  called  in,  and  they  had 
recourse  to  the  usual  expedients ;  but  the 
diagnostics  led  them  to  no  certain  con- 
clusion. 


30 


IV. 


In  a  few  days  three  young  noblemen, 
who  had  long  desired  to  espouse  the  lady, 
presented  themselves  before  the  king, 
and  besought  his  favour. 

"You  have  often  promised  us,"  said 
they,  "that  one  or  the  other  should 
marry  your  daughter.  We  are  rich,  and 
of  noble  lineage  :  choose,  then,  which  of 
us  shall  be  your  son-in-law." 

"You  come,"  replied  the  king,  "at 
an  unseasonable  time.  My  daughter  is 
unable  to  follow  her  usual  pursuits,  and 

31 


for  this  reason  languishes  on  her  bed. 
But  that  I  may  not  appear  to  you  un- 
necessarily to  protract  your  uncertainty, 
write  each  of  you  your  names,  and  the 
settlement  you  will  make  her.  She 
shall  examine  them,  and  choose  be- 
tween ye." 

The  suitors  complied,  and  gave  the 
writings  to  the  king,  who  read,  and 
sealed,  and  then  despatched  Apollonius 
with  them  to  the  lady.  As  soon  as 
she  beheld  him  whom  she  loved,  she 
exclaimed, 

*'Sir,  how  is  it  that  you  enter  my 
chamber  alone  ? " 

He  presented  the  writings  which  her 
father  had  sent,  and,  having  opened 
them,  she  read  the  names  and  proposals 
of  the  three  suitors.  Casting  them  aside, 
she  said  to  Apollonius, 

*'  Sir,  are  you  not  sorry  that  I  must  be 
married  ? " 

**  No,"  returned  he ;  "  whatever  is  for 
your  honour  is  pleasant  to  me." 

"  Ah  !  master,  master,"  continued  the 
girl ;  "  but  if  you  loved  me,  you  would 
grieve." 

32 


She  wrote  back  her  answer,  sealed, 
and  delivered  it  to  ApoUonius  to  carry 
to  the  king.     It  ran  in  these  words  : 

"  Royal  sir  and  father,  since  you  have 
permitted  me  to  write  my  wishes,  I  do 
write  them.  I  will  espouse  him  who 
was  shipwrecked." 

The  king  read,  but  not  knowing 
which  of  them  had  been  in  this  pre- 
dicament, he  said  to  the  contending 
parties,  "  Which  of  you  has  been  ship- 
wrecked ? " 

One,  whose  name  was  Ardonius,  re- 
plied, "  I  have,  my  lord." 

"  What !  "  cried  another,  "  diseases 
confound  thee;  mayst  thou  be  neither 
safe  nor  sound.  I  know  perfectly  well 
that  thou  hast  never  been  beyond  the 
gates  of  the  city ;  where,  then,  wert  thou 
shipwrecked  ? " 

When  the  king  could  not  discover  the 
shipwrecked  suitor,  he  turned  to  ApoUo- 
nius, and  said, 

"  Take  thou  the  tablets  and  read ;  per- 
haps they  will  be  more  intelligible  to  you 
than  they  are  to  me." 

He  took  them,  and  running  his  eye 

33 


over  the  contents,  perceived  that  he  was 
the  person  designed,  and  that  the  lady 
loved  him.     He  blushed. 

"  Dost  thou  discover  this  shipwrecked 
person,  Apollonius  ? "  asked  the  king. 
He  blushed  still  deeper,  and  made  a 
brief  reply. 

When  the  king  became  aware  of  his 
daughter's  inclination,  he  said  to  the  three 
lovers, 

"  In  due  time  I  will  communicate  with 
you."  They  bade  him  farewell  and  de- 
parted. But  the  king  hastened  to  his 
daughter. 

"Whom,"  said  he,  "wouldst  thou 
choose  for  thy  husband?" 

She  prostrated  herself  before  him  with 
tears,  and  answered, 

"Dear  father,  I  desire  to  marry  the 
shipwrecked  Apollonius." 

His  child's  tears  softened  the  parent's 
heart ;  he  raised  her  up,  and  said, 

"  My  sweet  child,  think  only  of  thy 
happiness ;  since  he  is  thy  choice,  he 
shall  be  mine.  I  will  appoint  the  day 
of  your  nuptials  immediately." 

The  following  morning,  he  sent  mes- 
34 


sengers  to  the  neighbouring  cities  to  in- 
vite the  nobles.  When  they  arrived,  he 
said, 

"  My  lords,  my  daughter  would  marry 
her  master.  I  desire  you,  therefore,  to 
be  merry,  for  my  child  will  be  united  to 
a  wise  man." 

Saying  this,  he  fixed  the  period  of 
their  spousals. 

Now,  it  happened,  after  she  became 
pregnant,  that  she  walked  with  her  hus- 
band, prince  Apollonius,  by  the  sea-shore, 
and  a  fine  ship  riding  at  anchor  in  the 
distance,  the  latter  perceived  that  it  was 
of  his  own  country.  Turning  to  the 
master  of  the  vessel,  he  said,  "  Whence 
are  you  ? " 

"  From  Tyre,"  replied  the  man. 

"You  speak  of  my  own  land,  my 
friend." 

"  Indeed  !  and  are  you  a  Tyrian  ?  " 

"  As  you  have  said." 

"  Do  you  know,"  continued  the  mas- 
ter, "a  prince  of  that  country,  called 
Apollonius  ?  I  seek  him ;  and  when- 
ever you  happen  to  see  him,  bid  him 
exult.  King  Antiochus  and  his  daugh- 
35 


ter,  at  the  very  same  instant,  were  blasted 
with  lightning.  The  kingdom  has  fallen 
to  Apollonius." 

Full  of  pleasure  at  the  unexpected 
intelligence  he  had  received,  the  prince 
said  to  his  wife,  ''  Will  you  acquiesce  in 
my  setting  out  to  obtain  the  throne  ? " 

The  lady  instantly  burst  into  tears: 
"  Oh,  my  lord,"  said  she,  "  the  journey 
is  long,  and  yet  you  would  leave  me  I 
If,  however,  it  is  necessary  that  you 
should  go,  we  will  go  together." 

Instantly  hastening  to  her  father,  she 
communicated  the  happy  news  which 
had  just  been  heard,  that  Antiochus  and 
his  daughter,  by  the  just  judgment  of 
an  offended  God,  had  been  struck  with 
lightning,  and  his  wealth  and  diadem 
reserved  for  her  husband.  And  lastly, 
she  entreated  his  permission  to  accom- 
pany him.  The  old  king,  much  exhila- 
rated with  the  intelligence,  was  easily 
prevailed  upon  to  assent ;  and  ships  were 
accordingly  prepared  for  their  convey- 
ance. They  were  laden  with  everything 
necessary  for  the  voyage;  and  a  nurse, 
called    Ligoridis,  was   embarked,  and  a 

36 


midwife,  in  anticipation  of  the  young 
queen's  parturition.  Her  father  accom- 
panied them  to  the  shore,  and  with  an 
affectionate  kiss  of  each,  took  his  leave. 


37 


ITv; 

!l 

la' 

1 

il 

i 

i 

\ 

s'l^ 

# 

V. 


When  they  had  been  at  sea  some 
days,  there  arose  a  fearful  tempest ;  and 
the  lady,  brought  by  this  circumstance 
into  premature  labour,  to  all  appearance 
perished.  The  moaning  and  tears  of 
her  family  almost  equalled  the  storm; 
and  ApoUonius,  alarmed  at  the  outcry, 
ran  into  the  apartment,  and  beheld  his 

38 


lovely  wife  like  an  inhabitant  of  the 
grave.  He  tore  his  garments  from  his 
breast,  and  cast  himself  with  tears  and 
groans  upon  her  inanimate  body. 

"  Dear  wife  !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  daugh- 
ter of  the  great  Altistrates,  how  shall  I 
console  thy  unhappy  parent  ?  " 

Here  the  pilot,  interrupting  him,  ob- 
served, "Sir,  it  will  prejudice  the  ship 
to  retain  the  dead  body  on  board ;  com- 
mand that  it  be  cast  into  the  sea." 

"Wretch  that  you  are,"  returned 
Apollonius,  "would  you  wish  me  to 
hurl  this  form  into  the  waves,  that  suc- 
coured me  shipwrecked  and  in  poverty  ?  " 

Then  calling  his  attendants,  he  di- 
rected them  to  prepare  a  coffin,  and 
smear  the  lid  with  bitumen.  He  also 
commanded  that  a  leaden  scroll  should 
be  placed  in  it,  and  the  body,  arrayed  in 
regal  habiliments,  and  crowned,  was  then 
deposited  in  the  coffin.  He  kissed  her 
cold  lips,  and  wept  bitterly.  Afterwards 
giving  strict  charge  respecting  the  new- 
born infant,  he  committed  all  that  re- 
mained of  his  wife  to  the  sea. 

On  the  third  day  the  chest  was  driven 
39 


by  the  waves  to  the  shores  of  Ephesus, 
not  far  from  the  residence  of  a  physician, 
called  Cerimon,  who  happened  at  that 
hour  to  be  walking  with  certain  of  his 
pupils  upon  the  sands.  Observing  the 
chest  deserted  by  the  waters,  he  com- 
manded his  servants  to  secure  it  with  all 
speed,  and  convey  it  to  his  house :  this 
done,  he  opened  it,  and  discovered  a 
beautiful  girl,  attired  in  royal  apparel. 
Her  uncommon  loveliness  struck  all  the 
spectators  with  astonishment;  for  she 
was  as  a  sunbeam  of  beauty,  in  which 
nature  had  created  everything  pure  and 
perfect,  and  failed  in  nothing  but  in  de- 
nying her  the  attribute  of  immortality. 
Her  hair  glittered  like  the  snow,  beneath 
which  a  brow  of  milky  whiteness,  smooth 
and  unwrinkled  as  a  plain,  peacefully 
rested.  Her  eyes  resembled  the  change- 
ableness,  not  the  prodigality,  of  two 
luminous  orbs;  for  their  gaze  was  di- 
rected by  an  unshaken  modesty,  which 
indicated  a  constant  and  enduring  mind. 
Her  eyebrows  were  naturally  and  excel- 
lently placed ;  and  her  shapely  nose,  de- 
scribing a  straight  line,  rose  centrically 
40 


upon  the  face.  It  possessed  neither  too 
much  length  nor  too  little.  Her  neck 
was  whiter  than  the  solar  rays,  and  orna- 
mented with  precious  stones ;  while  her 
countenance,  full  of  unspeakable  joy, 
communicated  happiness  to  all  who 
looked  on  her.  She  was  exquisitely 
formed;  and  the  most  critical  investiga- 
tion could  not  discover  more  or  less  than 
there  ought  to  be.  Her  beautiful  arms, 
like  the  branches  of  some  fair  tree,  de- 
scended from  her  well-turned  breast : 
to  which,  delicately  chiselled  fingers,  not 
outshone  by  the  lightning,  were  attached. 
In  short,  she  was  outwardly  a  perfect 
model,  —  flashing  through  which,  the 
divine  spark  of  soul  her  Creator  had 
implanted  might  be  gloriously  distin- 
guished. Works  of  power  ought  to 
accord  with  one  another :  and  hence  all 
corporal  beauty  originates  in  the  soul's 
loveliness.  It  has  even  been  said,  that 
mental  excellence,  however  various, 
adapts  the  mass  of  matter  to  itself. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  the  most  perfect 
adaptation  of  soul  and  body  existed  in 
this  lady,  now  discovered  by  Cerimon. 

41 


"  Fair  girl,"  said  he,  "  how  earnest  thou 
so  utterly  forsaken  ? "  The  money, 
which  had  been  placed  beneath  her 
head,  now  attracted  his  attention,  and 
then  the  scroll  of  lead  presented  itself. 

''  Let  us  examine  what  it  contains." 

He  opened  it  accordingly,  and  read  as 
follows : 

"Whomsoever  thou  art  that  findest 
this  chest,  I  entreat  thy  acceptance  of 
ten  pieces  of  gold;  the  other  ten  ex- 
pend, I  pray  thee,  on  a  funeral.  For 
the  corse  it  shrouds  hath  left  tears  and 
sorrows  enough  to  the  authors  of  her 
being.  If  thou  dost  neglect  my  request, 
I  imprecate  upon  thee  curses  against  the 
day  of  judgment,  and  devote  thy  body  to 
death,  unhonoured  and  uninhumed." 

When  the  physician  had  read,  he 
directed  his  servants  to  comply  with  the 
mourner's  injunction.  "  And  I  solemnly 
vow,"  added  he,  "  to  expend  more  than 
his  sorrow  requires."  Immediately  he 
bade  them  prepare  a  funeral  pile.  When 
this  was  done,  and  everything  laid  in 
order,  a  pupil  of  the  physician,  a  young 
man,  but  possessing  the  wisdom  of  old 
42 


age,  came  to  look  upon  the  lady.  As 
he  considered  her  fair  form  attentively, 
already  laid  upon  the  pile,  his  preceptor 
said  to  him, 

"  You  come  opportunely ;  I  have  ex- 
pected you  this  hour.  Get  a  vial  of 
precious  ointment,  and,  in  honour  of  this 
bright  creature,  pour  it  upon  the  funeral 
pile." 

The  youth  obeyed,  approached  the 
body,  and  drawing  the  garments  from 
her  breast,  poured  out  the  ointment. 
But  accidentally  passing  his  hand  over 
her  heart,  he  fancied  that  it  beat.  The 
youth  was  electrified.  He  touched  the 
veins,  and  searched  if  any  breath  issued 
from  the  nostrils.  He  pressed  his  lips 
to  hers ;  and  he  thought  he  felt  life 
struggling  with  death.  Calling  hastily 
to  the  servants,  he  bade  them  place 
torches  at  each  corner  of  the  bier. 
When  they  had  done  this,  the  blood, 
which  had  been  coagulated,  presently 
liquefied ;  and  the  young  man,  attentive 
to  the  change,  exclaimed  to  his  master, 

"  She  lives  !  she  lives  !     You  scarcely 
credit  me ;  come  and  see." 
43 


As  he  spoke,  he  bore  the  lady  to  his 
own  chamber.  Then  heating  oil  upon 
his  breast,  he  steeped  in  it  a  piece  of 
wool,  and  laid  it  upon  her  body.  By 
these  means,  the  congealed  blood  being 
dissolved,  the  spirit  again  penetrated  to 
the  marrows.  Thus,  the  veins  being 
cleared,  her  eyes  opened,  and  respiration 
returned. 

"  What  are  you  ?  "  said  she.  "  Touch 
me  not  otherwise  than  I  ought  to  be 
touched ;  for  I  am  the  daughter  and  the 
wife  of  a  king." 

Full  of  rapture  at  the  sound  of  her 
voice,  the  young  man  hurried  into  his 
master's  room,  and  related  what  had 
occurred. 

"  I  approve  your  skill,"  returned  he, 
"  I  magnify  your  art,  and  wonder  at 
your  prudence.  Mark  the  results  of 
learning,  and  be  not  ungrateful  to 
science.  Receive  now  thy  reward ;  for 
the  lady  brought  much  wealth  with  her." 

Cerimon  then  directed  food  and 
clothes  to  be  conveyed  to  her,  and  ad- 
ministered the  best  restoratives.  A  few 
days  after  her  recovery,  she  declared  her 
44 


birth  and  misfortunes;  and  the  good 
physician,  commiserating  her  situation, 
adopted  her  as  his  daughter.  With  tears 
she  solicited  permission  to  reside  among 
the  vestals  of  Diana ;  and  he  placed  her 
with  certain  female  attendants  in  the 
magnificent  temple  of  the  goddess. 


45 


VI. 


In  the  mean  while  Apollonius,  guided 
by  the  good  providence  of  God,  arrived 
at  Tharsus,  and  disembarking,  sought 
the  mansion  of  Stranguilio  and  Diony- 
sias.  After  mutual  greetings,  he  nar- 
rated his  adventures. 

"  Wretched  as  I  am  in  the  death  of  a 
beloved  wife,  I  have  yet  cause  for  joy  in 

46 


the  existence  of  this  infant.  To  you  I 
will  intrust  her ;  for  never,  since  his  off- 
spring has  perished,  will  I  again  revisit 
the  old  Altistrates.  But  educate  my 
girl  with  your  own  daughter  Philomatia ; 
and  call  her  after  your  city,  by  the  name 
of  Tharsia.  I  would,  moreover,  pray 
you  to  take  charge  of  her  nurse,  Ligori- 
dis." 

With  such  words,  he  gave  the  child 
up  to  them,  accompanied  by  large 
presents  of  gold  and  silver,  and  valuable 
raiment.  He  then  took  an  oath  that  he 
would  neither  cut  his  beard,  or  hair,  or 
nails,  until  his  daughter  were  bestowed 
in  marriage.  Grieving  at  the  rashness 
of  the  vow,  Stranguilio  took  the  infant, 
and  promised  to  educate  it  with  the  ut- 
most care;  and  Apollonius,  satisfied 
with  the  assurance,  went  on  board  his 
vessel,  and  sailed  to  other  countries. 

While  these  things  were  transacting, 
Tharsia  attained  her  fifth  year,  and  com- 
menced a  course  of  liberal  studies  with 
the  young  Philomatia,  her  companion. 
When  she  was  fourteen,  returning  from 
school,  she  found  her  nurse,  Ligoridis, 
47 


taken  with  a  sudden  indisposition,  and 
seating  herself  near  the  old  woman, 
kindly  inquired  the  cause. 

"My  dear  daughter,"  replied  she, 
"  hear  my  words,  and  treasure  them  in 
your  heart.  Whom  do  you  believe  to 
be  your  father  and  mother;  and  which 
is  your  native  country  ? " 

"Tharsus,"  returned  she,  "is  the 
place  of  my  nativity ;  my  father,  Stran- 
guilio,  and  my  mother,  Dionysias." 

The  nurse  groaned,  and  said, 

"  My  daughter,  listen  to  me ;  I  will 
tell  you  to  whom  you  owe  your  birth,  in 
order  that,  when  I  am  dead,  you  may 
have  some  guide  for  your  future  actions. 
Your  father  is  called  Apollonius;  and 
your  mother's  name  is  Lucina,  the  daugh- 
ter of  King  Altistrates.  She  died  the 
moment  you  were  born ;  and  Apollonius, 
adorning  her  with  regal  vesture,  cast  the 
chest  which  contained  her  into  the  sea. 
Twenty  sestertia  of  gold  were  placed 
beneath  her  head,  and  whosoever  dis- 
covered it  was  entreated  to  give  her 
burial.  The  ship  in  which  your  un- 
happy father  sailed,  tossed  to  and  fro  by 

48 


the  winds  which  formed  your  cradle,  at 
last  put  into  this  port,  where  we  were 
hospitably  received  by  Stranguilio  and 
Dionysias,  to  whom  your  sire  also 
recommended  me.  He  then  made  a 
vow  never  to  clip  his  beard,  or  hair,  or 
nails,  until  you  were  married.  Now,  I 
advise  that  if,  after  my  death,  your 
present  friends  would  do  you  an  injury, 
hasten  into  the  forum,  and  there  you 
will  find  a  statue  of  your  father.  Cling 
to  it,  and  state  yourself  the  daughter  of 
him  whose  statue  that  is.  The  citizens, 
mindful  of  the  benefits  received  from 
him,  will  avenge  your  wrong." 

"  My  dear  nurse,"  answered  Tharsia, 
"you  tell  me  strange  things,  of  which, 
till  now,  I  was  ignorant." 

After  some  future  discourse,  Ligoridis 
gave  up  the  ghost.  Tharsia  attended 
her  obsequies,  and  lamented  her  a  full 
year. 

After  this,  she  returned  to  her  studies 
in  the  schools.  Her  custom  was,  on 
returning,  never  to  eat  until  she  had 
been  to  the  monument  erected  in 
honour  of  her  nurse.     She  carried  with 

49 


her  a  flask  of  wine,  and  there  tarried, 
invoking  the  name  of  her  beloved  and 
lamented  parents.  Whilst  she  was  thus 
employed,  Dionysias,  with  her  daughter 
Philomatia,  passed  through  the  forum ; 
and  the  citizens,  who  had  caught  a 
glimpse  of  Tharsia's  form,  exclaimed, 

"  Happy  father  of  the  lovely  Tharsia ; 
but  as  for  her  companion,  she  is  a  shame 
and  a  disgrace." 

The  mother,  hearing  her  daughter 
vilified,  while  the  stranger  was  com- 
mended, turned  away  in  a  madness  of 
fury.  She  retired  to  solitary  communi- 
cation with  herself. 

"  For  fourteen  years,"  muttered  she, 
"  the  father  has  neglected  his  daughter ; 
he  has  sent  no  letters,  and  certainly  he 
is  dead.  The  nurse  is  also  dead,  and 
there  is  no  one  to  oppose  me.  I  will 
kill  her,  and  deck  my  own  girl  with  her 
ornaments." 

As  she  thus  thought,  her  steward, 
named  Theophilus,  entered.  She  called 
him,  and  promising  a  vast  reward,  de- 
sired him  to  put  Tharsia  to  death. 

"  What  has  the  maid  done  ?  "  asked  he. 
50 


"  She  has  done  the  very  worst  things ; 
you  ought  not  therefore  to  deny  me. 
Do  what  I  command  you ;  if  you  do  it 
not,  you   will   bring  evil  on   yourself." 

"  Tell  me,  lady,  how  is  it  to  be  done  ?  " 

"  Her  custom  is,"  replied  Dionysias, 
"  on  coming  from  the  schools,  not  to 
take  food  until  she  has  entered  her 
nurse's  monument ;  arm  yourself  with  a 
dagger,  seize  her  by  the  hair  of  the  head, 
and  there  stab  her.  Then  throw  her 
body  into  the  sea,  and  come  to  me;  I 
will  give  you  your  liberty,  with  a  large 
reward. 

The  steward,  taking  the  weapon,  went 
with  much  sorrow  to  the  monument. 

"  Alas  !  "  said  he,  "  shall  I  not  deserve 
liberty  except  by  the  sacrifice  of  a  virgin's 
life  ? " 

He  entered  the  monument,  where  Thar- 
sia,  after  her  occupation  in  the  schools, 
had  as  usual  retired;  the  flask  of  wine 
was  in  her  hand.  The  steward  attacked 
the  poor  girl,  and,  seizing  her  by  the 
hair,  threw  her  upon  the  ground.  But 
as  he  was  on  the  point  of  striking,  Thar- 
sia  cried  out, 

51 


"  Oh,  Theophilus  !  what  crime  have 
I  committed  against  you,  or  against 
any  other,  that  I  should  die  ? " 

"You  are  innocent,"  answered  he, 
*'of  everything,  save  possessing  a  sum 
of  money  and  certain  royal  ornaments 
left  you  by  your  father." 

"  Oh,  sir !  "  said  the  forsaken  orphan, 
"  if  I  have  no  hope,  yet  suffer  me  to 
supplicate  my  Maker  before  I  die." 

"  Do  so,"  answered  the  steward,  "  and 
God  knows  that  it  is  upon  compulsion 
that  I  slay  thee." 


52 


vn. 


Now,  while  the  girl  was  engaged  in 
prayer,  certain  pirates  rushed  into  the 
monument,  expecting  to  carry  ofF  a 
booty;  and  observing  a  young  maid 
prostrated,  and  a  man  standing  over  her 
in  the  act  to  destroy  her,  they  shouted 
out, 

"  Stop,  barbarian !  that  is  our  prey, 
not  your  victory." 

Theophilus,  full  of  terror,  fled  hastily 
53 


from  the  monument  and  hid  himself  by 
the  shore. 

The  pirates  carried  off  the  maid  to 
sea;  and  the  steward,  returning  to  his 
mistress,  assured  her  that  he  had  obeyed 
her  commands. 

"  I  advise  you,"  said  he,  "  to  put  on  a 
mourning  garment,  which  I  also  will  do, 
and  shed  tears  for  her  death.  This  will 
deceive  the  citizens,  to  whom  we  will 
say  that  she  was  taken  off  by  a  sickness." 

When  Stranguilio  heard  what  had  been 
done,  his  grief  was  sincere  and  violent. 

"  I  will  clothe  myself  in  deep  mourn- 
ing," cried  he,  "for  I  too  am  involved 
in  this  fearful  enormity.  Alas  !  what  can 
I  do  ?  Her  father  freed  our  city  from  a 
lingering  death.  Through  our  means  he 
suffered  shipwreck ;  he  lost  his  property, 
and  underwent  the  extreme  of  poverty. 
Yet  we  return  him  evil  for  good  !  He 
intrusted  his  daughter  to  our  care,  and 
a  savage  lioness  hath  devoured  her ! 
Blind  wretch  that  I  was !  Innocent,  I 
grieve.  I  am  bound  to  a  base  and  ven- 
omous serpent."  Lifting  up  his  eyes  to 
heaven,  he  continued,  "  O  God,  thou 
54 


knowest  that  I  am  free  from  the  blood 
of  this  girl  —  require  her  of  Dionysias." 

Then  fixing  a  stern  look  upon  his 
wife,  "  Enemy  of  God,  and  disgrace  of 
man,  thou  hast  destroyed  the  daughter 
of  a  king." 

Dionysias  made  much  apparent  lamen- 
tation :  she  put  her  household  into  mourn- 
ing, and  wept  bitterly  before  the  citizens. 

"  My  good  friends,"  said  she,  "  the 
hope  of  our  eyes,  the  beloved  Tharsia, 
is  gone  —  she  is  dead.  Our  tears  shall 
bedew  the  marble  which  we  have  raised 
to  her  memory." 

The  people  then  hastened  to  the  place 
where  her  form,  moulded  in  brass,  had 
been  erected,  in  gratitude  for  the  benefits 
conferred  upon  that  city  by  her  father. 

The  pirates  transported  the  maid  to 
Machilenta,  where  she  was  placed  among 
other  slaves  for  sale.  A  most  wretched 
and  debauched  pimp,  hearing  of  her  per- 
fections, endeavoured  to  buy  her.  But 
Athanagoras,  prince  of  that  city,  observ- 
ing her  lofty  port,  her  beautiful  coun- 
tenance, and  wise  conduct,  offered  ten 
golden  sestertia. 

$s 


Pimp,  I  will  give  twenty. 

Athanagoras,  And  I,  thirty. 

Pimp,  Forty. 

Athanagoras,  Fifty. 

Pimp,  Eighty. 

Athanagoras,  Ninety. 

Pimp,  I  will  give  a  hundred  sestertia 
in  ready  money;  if  any  one  offer  more, 
I  will  give  ten  gold  sestertia  above. 

"Why  should  I  contend  any  farther 
with  this  pimp,"  thought  Athanagoras. 
"  I  may  purchase  a  dozen  for  the  price 
she  will  cost  him.  Let  him  have  her; 
and  by  and  by  I  will  enter  covertly  his 
dwelling  and  solicit  her  love." 

Tharsia  was  conducted  by  the  pimp 
to  a  house  of  ill  fame,  in  an  apartment 
of  which  there  was  a  golden  Priapus, 
richly  ornamented  with  gems. 

"  Girl !  worship  that  image,"  said  the 
wretch. 

Tharsia,  I  may  not  worship  any 
such  thing.  Oh,  my  lord !  are  you  not 
a  Lapsatenarian. 

Pimp,  Why? 

Tharsia,  Because  the  Lapsateni  wor- 
ship Priapus, 

56 


Pimp,  Know  you  not,  wretched  girl, 
that  you  have  entered  the  house  of  a 
greedy  pimp  ? 

Casting  herself  at  his  feet,  she  ex- 
claimed, "  Oh,  sir !  do  not  dishonour 
me ;  be  not  guilty  of  such  a  flagrant  out- 
rage." 

Pimp,  Are  you  ignorant  that,  with  a 
pimp  and  the  torturer,  neither  prayers 
nor  tears  are  available  ? 

He  sent  for  the  overseer  of  the  women, 
and  desired  him  to  array  Tharsia  in  the 
most  splendid  apparel,  and  proclaim 
around  the  city  the  price  of  her  dis- 
honour. The  overseer  did  as  he  was 
ordered;  and  on  the  third  day  a  crowd 
of  people  arrived,  preceded  by  the  pimp 
with  music.  But  Athanagoras  came  first 
in  a  mask,  and  Tharsia,  looking  despair- 
ingly upon  him,  threw  herself  at  his 
feet. 

''  Pity  me,  my  lord ;  pity  me,  for  the 
love  of  Heaven.  By  that  Heaven  I  ad- 
jure you  to  save  me  from  dishonour. 
Hear  my  story ;  and  knowing  from  whom 
I  sprung,  respect  my  descent  and  defend 


my  mnocence." 


57 


She  then  detailed  the  whole  fortunes 
of  her  life;  and  Athanagoras,  confused 
and  penitent,  exclaimed, 

"  Alas !  and  I  too  have  a  daughter, 
whom  fate  may  in  like  manner  afflict. 
In  your  misfortunes  I  may  apprehend 
hers.  Here  are  twenty  gold  pieces;  it 
is  more  than  your  barbarous  master  ex- 
acts from  you.  Relate  your  narrative  to 
the  next  comers,  and  it  will  insure  your 
freedom." 

Full  of  gratitude  for  the  generous 
treatment  she  experienced,  Tharsia  re- 
turned him  thanks,  but  entreated  that 
her  story  might  not  be  communicated  to 
others. 

"  To  none  but  my  own  daughter," 
said  he,  "for  it  will  be  replete  with 
moral  advantage." 

So  saying,  and  shedding  some  tears 
over  her  fallen  estate,  he  departed.  As 
he  went  out  he  met  a  friend,  who  stopped 
him  and  asked  how  the  girl  had  behaved. 

"  None  better,"  returned  the  prince  ; 
"  but  she  is  very  sorrowful." 

The  youth  entered,  and  she  closed  the 
door  as  on  the  former  occasion, 
S3 


"  How  much  has  the  prince  given 
you  ?  "  asked  he. 

"  Forty  pieces,"  answered  the  girl. 

"  Here,  then ;  take  the  whole  pound 
of  gold." 

Tharsia  took  the  present,  but  falling 
at  his  feet,  explained  her  situation. 
Aporiatus  (for  that  was  the  young  man's 
name)  answered, 

"  Rise,  lady ;  we  are  men.  All  of  us 
are  subject  to  misfortunes." 

He  went  out,  and  observing  Athanag- 
oras  laughing,  said  to  him, 

"  You  are  a  fine  fellow  !  Have  you 
nobody  to  pledge  in  tears  but  me  ? " 

Afraid  that  these  words  should  betray 
the  matter,  they  gave  another  turn  to 
the  discourse,  and  awaited  the  coming 
of  some  other  person.  Great  numbers 
appeared,  but  they  all  returned  in  tears, 
having  given  her  sums  of  money.  Thar- 
sia having  obtained  the  sum  which  the 
pimp  had  fixed  as  the  price  of  her  dis- 
honour, presented  it  to  him. 

"  Take  care,"  said  the  monster,  "  that 
you  bring  me  whatever  money  is  pre- 
sented to  you." 

59 


But  the  next  day,  understanding  that 
she  yet  preserved  her  honour,  his  rage 
knew  no  bounds;  and  he  immediately 
commissioned  the  overseer  of  the  women 
to  complete  the  iniquity.  When  he 
appeared,  the  poor  girl's  tears  flowed  in 
profusion. 

"  Pity  me,  sir,"  she  said,  falling  at  his 
feet ;  "  my  misfortunes  have  created  the 
compassion  of  others,  and  surely  you  will 
not  alone  spurn  my  request.  I  am  the 
daughter  of  a  king;  do  not  dishonour 
me. 

"  This  pimp,"  replied  he,  "  is  avari- 
cious :  I  know  not  what  I  can  do." 

"Sir,"  answered  Tharsia,  "I  have 
been  educated  in  liberal  pursuits.  I 
understand  music ;  if,  therefore,  you  will 
lead  me  to  the  forum,  you  shall  hear  my 
performance.  Propose  questions  to  the 
people,  and  I  will  expound  them ;  I  have 
no  doubt  but  I  shall  receive  money 
enough." 

"  Well,"  said  the  fellow,  "  I  will  do 
as  you  would  have  me." 

Proclamation  being  made,  the  people 
crowded  to  the  forum ;  and  her  eloquence 
60 


and  beauty  impressed  them  all.  What- 
ever question  they  proposed,  she  lucidly 
answered;  and  by  these  means  drew 
much  wealth  from  the  curious  citizens. 
Athanagoras,  also,  watched  over  her  with 
much  anxiety  —  with  little  less,  indeed, 
than  he  showed  to  his  only  child.  He 
recommended  her  to  the  care  of  the 
overseer,  and  bought  him  to  his  interest 
by  valuable  presents. 


6i 


VIII. 


Let  us  now  return  to  Apollonius. 
After  a  lapse  of  fourteen  years,  he  again 
made  his  appearance  at  the  house  of 
Stranguilio  and  Dionysias,  in  the  city 
of  Tharsus :  no  sooner  had  the  former 
beheld  him,  than  he  strode  about  like  a 
madman. 

"Woman,"  said  he,  addressing  his 
wife,  "  what  wilt  thou  do  now  ?  Thou 
hast  said  that  Apollonius  was  shipwrecked 
and  dead.  Behold,  he  seeks  his  daughter ; 
what  answer  shall  we  make  ? " 

"  Foolish  man,"  returned  she,  "  let  us 
62 


resume  our  mourning,  and  have  recourse 
to  tears.  He  will  believe  that  his  child 
died  a  natural  death." 

As  she  said  this,  Apollonius  entered. 
Observing  their  funeral  habiliments,  he 
asked, 

"  Do  you  grieve  at  my  return  ?  Those 
tears,  I  fear,  are  not  for  yourselves,  but 
for  me." 

"  Alas  !  "  replied  the  woman, "  I  would 
to  Heaven  that  another,  and  not  me  or 
my  husband,  had  to  detail  to  you  what 
I  must  say.  Your  daughter  Tharsia  is 
suddenly  dead !  " 

Apollonius  trembled  through  every 
limb,  and  then  stood  fixed  as  a  statue. 

"  Oh,  woman,  if  my  daughter  be 
really  as  you  describe,  have  her  money 
and  clothes  also  perished  ?  " 

"  Some  part  of  both,"  replied  Diony- 
sias,  "  is  of  course  expended ;  but  that 
you  may  not  hesitate  to  give  faith  to 
our  assurances,  we  will  produce  testimony 
in  our  behalf.  The  citizens,  mindful 
of  your  munificence,  have  raised  a  brazen 
monument  to  her  memory,  which  your 
own  eyes  may  see." 

63 


Apollonius,  thus  imposed  upon,  said 
to  his  servants,  "  Go  ye  to  the  ship ;  I 
will  visit  the  grave  of  my  unhappy 
child." 

There  he  read  the  inscription,  as  we 
have  detailed  above,  and  then,  as  if  im- 
precating a  curse  upon  his  own  eyes,  he 
exclaimed  in  a  paroxysm  of  mental  agony, 

"  Hateful,  cruel  sources  of  perception, 
do  ye  now  refuse  tears  to  the  memory 
of  my  lamented  girl." 

With  expressions  like  these,  he  has- 
tened to  his  ship,  and  entreated  his  serv- 
ants to  cast  him  into  the  sea. 

They  set  sail  for  Tyre,  and  for  a  time 
the  breezes  blew  prosperously;  but 
changing,  they  were  driven  considerably 
out  of  their  course.  Guided  by  the 
good  providence  of  God,  they  entered 
the  port  of  Machilena,  where  his  daugh- 
ter still  abode.  The  pilot  and  the  rest 
of  the  crew  shouted  loudly  on  their  ap- 
proach to  land,  and  Apollonius  sent  to 
inquire  the  cause. 

"  My  lord,"  answered  the  pilot,  "  the 
people  of  Machilena  are  engaged  in  cele- 
brating a  birthday." 

64 


Apollonius  groaned,  "All  can  keep 
their  birthdays  except  me.  But  it  is 
enough  that  I  am  miserable ;  I  give  my 
attendants  ten  pieces  of  gold,  and  let  them 
enjoy  the  festival.  And  whosoever  pre- 
sumes to  utter  my  name,  or  rejoice  in 
my  hearing,  command  that  his  legs  be 
immediately  broken." 

The  steward  took  the  necessary  sums, 
and  having  purchased  supplies,  returned 
to  the  ship.  Now,  the  bark  which  con- 
tained Apollonius  being  more  honourable 
than  the  rest,  the  feast  was  celebrated 
there  more  sumptuously.  It  happened 
that  Athanagoras,  who  was  enamoured 
of  the  fair  Tharsia,  walked  upon  the  sea- 
shore near  the  king's  ship.  "  Friends," 
said  he  to  those  who  accompanied  him, 
"  that  vessel  pleases  me." 

The  sailors  with  which  she  was 
manned,  hearing  him  applaud  their  ves- 
sel, invited  him  on  board.  He  went  ac- 
cordingly ;  and  laying  down  ten  gold 
pieces  upon  the  table,  observed, 

"  You  have  not  invited  me  for  noth- 
ing." 

They  thanked  him;  and,  in  answer 
6s 


to  certain  questions  he  had  put,  informed 
the  prince  that  their  lord  was  in  great 
affliction,  and  wished  to  die :  they  added, 
that  he  had  lost  a  wife  and  daughter  in 
a    foreign  country. 

"  I  will  give  you  two  pieces  of  gold," 
said  Athanagoras  to  Ardalius,  one  of  the 
servants,  "  if  you  will  go  and  say  to  him 
that  the  prince  of  this  city  desires  a  con- 
ference." 

"  Two  gold  pieces,"  answered  the 
person  he  spoke  to,  *'  will  not  repair  my 
broken  legs.  I  pray  you  send  another ; 
for  he  has  determined  thus  to  punish 
any  one  who  approaches  him." 

"  He  made  this  law  for  you,"  returned 
the  prince,  "  but  not,  I  think,  for  me  : 
I  will  descend  myself;  tell  me  his  name." 

They  told  him  —  Apollonius. 

"  Apollonius  ?  "  said  he  to  himself; 
"  so  Tharsia  calls  her  father." 

He  hastened  into  his  presence,  and 
beheld  a  forlorn  and  desolate  person. 
His  beard  was  of  great  length,  and  his 
head  in  the  wildest  disorder.  In  a  low, 
subdued  tone  of  voice,  he  said,  "  Hail, 
Apollonius." 

66 


Apollonius,  supposing  it  to  be  one  of 
his  own  people,  fixed  on  him  a  furious 
look,  but,  seeing  an  honourable  and 
handsome  man,  remained  silent. 

"You  are  doubtless  surprised,"  said 
the  prince,  "at  my  intrusion.  I  am 
called  Athanagoras,  and  am  prince  of 
this  city.  Observing  your  fleet  riding 
at  anchor  from  the  shore,  I  was  at- 
tracted by  it ;  and  amongst  other  things, 
being  struck  with  the  superior  structure 
of  this  vessel,  your  sailors  invited  me  on 
board.  I  inquired  for  their  lord,  and 
they  answered  that  he  was  overwhelmed 
with  grief.  I  have  therefore  ventured 
hither,  in  the  hope  of  administering 
comfort  to  you,  and  drawing  you  once 
more  into  the  light  of  joy.  I  pray  God 
that  it  may  prove  so." 

Apollonius  raised  his  head  :  "  Who- 
soever you  are,  go  in  peace.  I  am  un- 
worthy to  appear  at  the  banquet;  and 
I  do  not  desire  to  live." 

Perplexed,  yet  anxious  to  console  the 

unhappy    king,    Athanagoras     returned 

upon  deck;  and  despatched  a  messenger 

to  the  pimp,  to  require  the    immediate 

67 


presence  of  Tharsia,  whose  musical  skill 
and  eloquence,  he  thought,  could  not  but 
produce  some  effect.  She  came,  and 
received  instructions  from  the  prince. 

"  If  you  succeed,*'  said  he,  "  in  soft- 
ening this  royal  person's  affliction,  I  will 
present  to  you  thirty  gold  sestertia,  and 
as  many  of  silver  5  moreover,  for  thirty 
days,  redeem  you  from  the  power  of  your 
master." 

The  girl  accordingly  prepared  herself 
for  the  task.  Approaching  the  mourner, 
"  Heaven  keep  you,"  said  she,  in  a  low 
plaintive  voice,  "  and  make  you  happy  j 
a  virgin  that  hath  preserved  her  honour 
amid  her  misfortunes  salutes  you."  She 
then  sang  to  an  instrument,  with  such 
a  sweet  and  ravishing  melody,  that  Apol- 
lonius  was  enchanted.  Her  song  related 
to  the  fortunes  she  had  experienced,  and 
was  to  the  following  effect :  —  That  she 
fell  into  the  hands  of  dishonest  people, 
who  sought  to  traffic  with  her  virtue; 
but  that  she  passed  innocent  through  all 
her  trials.  "Thus,"  continued  she, 
"  the  rose  is  protected  by  its  thorns. 
They  who  bore  me  off  beat  down  the 
6S 


sword  of  the  smiter.  I  preserved  my 
virtue  when  attacked  by  my  brutal 
owner.  The  wounds  of  the  mind  lin- 
ger, and  tears  fail.  In  me  behold  the 
only  offspring  of  a  royal  house.  Contain 
your  tears,  and  limit  your  anxiety.  Look 
up  to  heaven,  and  raise  your  thoughts 
above.  The  Creator  and  Supporter  of 
mankind  is  God;  nor  will  He  permit 
the  tears  of  His  virtuous  servants  to  be 
shed  in  vain." 

As  she  concluded,  Apollonius  fixed 
his  eyes  upon  the  girl,  and  groaned 
deeply  :  ''  Wretched  man  that  I  am," 
said  he,  "  how  long  shall  I  struggle  with 
my  sorrows  ?  But  I  am  grateful  for 
your  attentions;  and  if  again  permitted 
to  rejoice  in  the  zenith  of  my  power, 
your  memory  will  support  me.  You 
say  you  are  royally  descended  ?  —  who 
are  your  parents  ?  But  begone ;  here 
are  a  hundred  gold  pieces;  take  them, 
and  speak  to  me  no  more.  I  am  con- 
sumed with  new  afflictions." 

The  girl  received  his  donation,  and 
would  have  left  the  ship ;  but  Athanag- 
oras  stopped  her. 

69 


"  Whither  are  you  going  ?  "  said  he ; 
"  you  have  as  yet  done  no  good  :  is  your 
heart  so  pitiless  that  you  can  suffer  a 
man  to  destroy  himself,  without  striving 
to  prevent  it  ?  " 

"  I  have  done  everything  that  I  could," 
answered  Tharsia  :  "  he  gave  me  a  hun- 
dred gold  pieces,  and  desired  me  to  depart." 

"  I  will  give  you  two  hundred  pieces 
if  you  will  return  the  money  to  him,  and 
say,  "  My  lord,  I  seek  your  safety,  not 
your  money." 

Tharsia  complied,  and  seating  herself 
near  to  the  king,  said,  "  If  you  are  deter- 
mined to  continue  in  the  squalid  state  to 
which  you  have  accustomed  yourself, 
give  me  leave  to  reason  with  you.  I 
will  propose  a  question :  if  you  can 
answer  it,  I  will  depart;  if  not,  I  will 
return  your  present  and  go." 

"  Keep  what  I  have  given ;  I  will  not 
deny  your  request.  For  though  my 
evils  admit  of  no  cure,  yet  I  determine 
to  hearken  to  you.  Put  your  question, 
then,  and  depart." 

"  Hear  me ;  there  is  a  house  in  a 
certain  part  of  the  world  which  bounds 
70 


and  rebounds,  but  it  is  closed  against 
mankind.  This  house  loudly  echoes, 
but  its  inhabitant  is  ever  silent;  and 
both  —  the  house  and  inhabitant  — 
move  forward  together.  Now,  if  you 
are  a  king,  as  you  aver,  you  should  be 
wiser  than  I  am.     Resolve  the  riddle." 

"To  prove  to  you  that  I  am  no 
impostor,"  said  Apollonius, "  I  will  reply. 
The  house  which  bounds  and  rebounds 
and  echoes  is  the  wave ;  the  mute  inhab- 
itant is  a  fish,  which  glides  along  with 
its  residence." 

Tharsia  continued,  "  I  am  borne 
rapidly  along  by  the  tall  daughter  of  the 
grove,  which  equally  encloses  an  innu- 
merable company.  I  glide  over  various 
paths,  and  leave  no  footstep." 

"When  I  have  answered  your  ques- 
tions," said  Apollonius,  "  I  will  show 
you  much  that  you  know  not.  Yet  I 
am  astonished  that  one  so  young  should 
be  endowed  with  wit  so  keen  and  pene- 
trating. The  tree  enclosing  a  host,  and 
passing  through  various  ways  without  a 
trace,  is  a  ship." 

*'  A  person  passes  through  circumfer- 

71 


ences  and  temples  without  injury. 
There  is  a  great  heat  in  the  centre  which 
no  one  removes.  The  house  is  not 
uncovered,  but  it  suits  a  naked  inhab- 
itant. If  you  would  allay  pain,  you 
must  enter  into  fire." 

"I  would  enter,  then,  into  a  bath, 
where  fire  is  introduced  by  means  of 
round  tables.  The  covered  house  suits 
a  naked  inhabitant;  and  he  who  is 
naked  in  this  situation  will  perspire." 

When  she  had  said  these  and  similar 
things,  the  girl  threw  herself  before  Apol- 
lonius,  and  drawing  aside  his  hands, 
embraced  him. 

"  Hear,"  said  she,  "  the  voice  of  your 
supplicant :  regard  a  virgin's  prayers.  It 
is  wicked  in  men  of  so  much  wisdom  to 
destroy  themselves.  If  you  lament  your 
lost  wife,  the  mercy  of  God  can  restore 
her  to  you ;  if  your  deceased  child,  you 
may  yet  find  her.  You  ought  to  live 
and  be  glad." 

Apollonius,  irritated  at  the  girl's  per- 
tinacity, arose  and  pushed  her  from  him 
with  his  foot.  She  fell  and  cut  her  cheek, 
from  which  the  blood  copiously  flowed. 
73 


Terrified  at  the  wound  she  had  received, 
she  burst  into  tears,  and  exclaimed, 

"O  thou  eternal  Architect  of  the 
heavens  !  look  upon  my  afflictions.  Born 
amid  the  waves  and  storms  of  the  ocean, 
my  mother  perished  in  giving  life  to  her 
daughter.  Denied  rest  even  in  the  grave, 
she  was  deposited  in  a  chest,  with  twenty 
gold  sestertia,  and  thrown  into  the  sea. 
But  I,  unhappy,  was  delivered  by  my 
remaining  parent  to  Stranguilio  and 
Dionysius,  with  the  ornaments  befitting 
a  royal  extraction.  I  was  by  them 
devoted  to  death ;  but  whilst  I  invoked 
the  assistance  of  God,  a  number  of 
pirates  rushed  in  and  the  murderer  fled. 
I  was  brought  hither;  and  in  His  own 
good  time  God  will  restore  me  to  my 
father  Apollonius." 

Here  she  concluded,  and  the  royal 
mourner,  struck  with  her  relation, 
shouted  with  a  loud  voice, 

"  Merciful  God  !  Thou  who  lookest 
over  heaven  and  earth,  and  revealest 
that  which  is  hidden,  blessed  be  Thy 
holy  name." 

Saying  this,  he  fell  into  the  arms  of 
73 


his  daughter.  Tenderly  be  embraced 
her,  and  wept  aloud  for  joy. 

"  My  best  and  only  child,"  said  he  ; 
"  half  of  my  own  soul !  I  shall  not  die 
for  thy  loss.  I  have  found  thee,  and  I 
wish  to  live."  Exalting  his  voice  yet 
more,  "  Run  hither,  my  servants,  my 
friends !  all  of  ye ;  my  misery  is  at  an 
end.  I  have  found  what  I  had  lost  — 
my  child,  my  only  daughter !  " 

Hearing  his  exclamations,  the  attend- 
ants ran  in,  and  with  them  the  prince 
Athanagoras.  They  discovered  the  en- 
raptured king  weeping  upon  his  daughter's 
neck: 

"  See,  see,"  said  he,  "  this  is  she 
whom  I  lamented.  Half  of  my  soul ! 
now  will  I  live." 

Participating  in  their  master's  happi- 
ness, they  all  wept. 

Apollonius  now  divested  himself  of  his 
mourning  dress,  and  attired  himself  in 
regal  habiliments. 

"  Oh,  my  lord,"  said  his  followers, 
"how  much  your  daughter  resembles 
you !  Were  there  no  other  guide,  that 
would  indicate  her  birth."    The  delighted 

74 


girl  overwhelmed  her  recovered  parent 
with  kisses. 

"  Blessed  be  God,"  cried  she,  "  who 
has  been  so  gracious  to  me,  and  given 
me  to  see,  and  live,  and  die  with  you." 

Then,  entering  into  a  more  detailed 
account  of  her  adventures,  she  related 
what  she  had  endured  from  the  wretched 
pimp,  and  how  the  Almighty  had  pro- 
tected her. 

Athanagoras,  fearing  lest  another  might 
demand  her  in  marriage,  threw  himself 
at  the  king's  feet,  and  modestly  intimat- 
ing how  instrumental  be  had  been  in 
promoting  their  happy  reunion,  besought 
him  to  bestow  his  child  upon  him. 

"  I  cannot  deny  you,"  returned  Apol- 
lonius,  "  for  you  have  alleviated  her  sor- 
rows, and  been  the  means  of  my  present 
and  future  happiness.  Take  her.  But 
deeply  shall  that  rascal  feel  my  ven- 
geance." 

Athanagoras  immediately  returned  to 
the  city,  and  convoked  an  assembly  of 
the  people. 

"  Let  not  our  city  perish,"  said  he, 
addressing  them,  "  for  the  crimes  of  one 
75 


impious  wretch.  Know  that  King  Ap- 
ollonius,  the  father  of  the  beautiful  Thar- 
sia,  has  arrived.  Behold  where  his  navy 
rides.  He  threatens  us  with  instant  de- 
struction, unless  the  scoundrel  who  would 
have  prostituted  his  daughter  be  given 
up  to  him." 

Scarcely  had  he  spoken  when  the 
whole  population,  men  and  women,  hur- 
ried off  to  implore  the  king's  clemency. 

"  I  advise  you,"  said  Athanagoras,  "  to 
take  the  wretch  with  you." 

Seizing  the  execrable  man,  they  tied 
his  hands  to  his  back,  and  carried  him 
along  to  the  presence  of  offended  majesty. 
ApoUonius,  clad  in  royal  robes,  his  hair 
shorn,  and  crowned,  ascended  the  tri- 
bunal with  his  daughter.  The  citizens 
stood  round,  in  expectation  of  his  address. 

"  Men  of  Machilenta,"  said  he,  "  to- 
day I  have  recovered  my  daughter,  whom 
that  villainous  pimp  would  have  cor- 
rupted. Neither  pity,  nor  prayers,  nor 
gold  could  prevail  with  him  to  desist 
from  his  atrocious  purposes.  Do  ye, 
therefore,  avenge  my  daughter." 

The  people,  with  one  voice,  answered, 
76 


"  Let  him  be  burnt  alive,  and  his 
wealth  given  to  the  lady." 

Instantly  the  wretch  was  brought  for- 
ward and  burnt. 

"  I  give  you  your  liberty,"  said  Thar- 
sia  to  the  overseer,  "  because,  by  your 
kindness  and  the  kindness  of  the  citizens, 
I  remained  unsullied.  I  also  present  to 
you  two  hundred  gold  sestertia." 

Turning  to  the  other  girls,  she  added, 
"  Be  free,  and  forget  your  past  habits." 

Apollonius,  again  addressing  the 
people,  returned  them  thanks  for  their 
kindness  to  him  and  his  daughter,  and 
bestowed  on  them  a  donation  of  five 
hundredweight  of  gold.  Shouts  and  ap- 
plause followed;  and  they  immediately 
set  about  erecting  a  statue  to  their  bene- 
factor in  the  midst  of  the  city.  Upon 
the  base  was  the  following  inscription  :  — 

TO   APOLLONIUS,   OF  TYRE, 

THE   PRESERVER   OF   OUR   STATE; 

AND   TO   THE   MOST   HOLY   THARSIA, 

HIS   VIRGIN   DAUGHTER. 

A  few  days  after  the  lady  was  espoused 
to  Athanagoras,  amid  the  universal  joy 
of  the  city. 

77 


IX. 


Intending  to  sail  with  his  daughter, 
and  son-in-law,  and  followers  to  his  own 
country  by  way  of  Tharsus,  an  angel 
admonished  him  in  a  dream  to  make  for 
Ephesus,  and  there,  entering  the  temple 
with  his  daughter  and  her  husband,  relate 
in  a  loud  voice  all  the  varied  turns  of 
fortune  to  which  he  had  been  subject 
from  his  earliest  youth.     Accordingly,  he 

78 


sailed  for  Ephesus.  Leaving  his  ship, 
he  sought  out  the  temple  to  which  his 
long-lost  wife  had  retired.  When  his 
wife  heard  that  a  certain  king  had  come 
to  the  temple  with  his  daughter,  she  ar- 
rayed herself  in  regal  ornaments,  and  en- 
tered with  an  honourable  escort.  The 
surrounding  multitude  was  much  struck 
with  her  beauty  and  modesty,  and  said 
there  never  was  so  lovely  a  virgin.  Ap- 
ollonius,  however,  knew  her  not;  but 
such  was  her  splendour  that  he  and  his 
companions  fell  at  her  feet,  almost  fan- 
cying her  to  be  Diana,  the  goddess.  He 
placed  on  the  shrine  precious  gifts,  and 
then,  as  the  angel  had  ordained,  he  com- 
menced his  history. 

"  I  was  born,"  said  he,  "  a  king.  I 
am  of  Tyre,  and  my  name  is  Apollo- 
nius.  I  solved  the  riddle  of  the  impious 
Antiochus,  who  sought  to  slay  me  as  the 
detector  of  his  wickedness.  I  fled,  and, 
by  the  kindness  of  King  Altistrates,  was 
espoused  to  his  daughter.  On  the  death 
of  Antiochus,  I  hastened  with  my  wife 
to  ascend  his  throne;  but  she  died  on 
the  passage,  after  giving  birth  to  this  my 

79 


daughter.  I  deposited  her  in  a  chest, 
with  twenty  gold  sestertia,  and  commit- 
ted her  to  the  waves.  I  placed  my 
daughter  under  the  care  of  those  whose 
subsequent  conduct  was  base  and  villain- 
ous, and  I  departed  to  the  higher  parts 
of  Egypt.  After  fourteen  years  I  re- 
turned  to  see  my  daughter.  They  told 
me  she  was  dead ;  and  crediting  it,  I  en- 
dured the  deepest  anguish  of  mind.  But 
my  child  was  at  length  restored  to  me." 

As  he  ended,  the  daughter  of  Altis- 
trates  sprung  towards  him,  and  would 
have  clasped  him  in  her  arms.  He  re- 
pelled her  with  indignation,  not  suppos- 
ing that  it  was  his  wife. 

"  Oh,  my  lord  !  "  cried  she,  weeping, 
"  better  half  of  my  soul !  why  do  you 
use  me  thus  ?  I  am  thy  wife,  the  daugh- 
ter of  King  Altistrates ;  and  thou  art  of 
Tyre ;  thou  art  Apollonius,  my  husband 
and  lord.  Thou  wert  the  beloved  one 
who  instructed  me.  Thou  wert  the 
shipwrecked  man  whom  I  loved  with 
pure  and  fond  regard." 

Apollonius  awakening  at  the  mention 
of  these  well-known  circumstances,  rec- 
80 


ollected  his  long-lost  lady.     He  fell  upon 
her  neck,  and  wept  for  joy. 

"Blessed  be  the  Most  High,  who 
hath  restored  me  my  wife  and  daughter." 

"  But  where,"  said  she,  "  is  our  daugh- 
ter ? " 

Presenting  Tharsia,  he  replied,  "  Be- 
hold her." 

They  kissed  each  other  tenderly ;  and 
the  news  of  this  happy  meeting  was  soon 
noised  abroad  through  the  whole  city. 

Apollonius  again  embarked  for  his  own 
country.  Arriving  at  Antioch,  he  was 
crowned,  and  then  hastening  to  Tyre,  he 
appointed  Athanagoras  and  his  daughter 
to  the  rule  of  this  place.  Afterwards 
assembling  a  large  army,  he  sat  down 
before  Tharsus,  and  commanded  Stran- 
guilio  and  Dionysias  to  be  seized  and 
brought  before  him.  Addressing  the 
Tharsians,  he  inquired, 

"  Did  I  ever  do  an  injury  to  any  one 
of  you  ? " 

"  No,  my  lord,"  answered  they ;  "  we 
are  ready  to  die  for  you.  This  statue 
bears  record  how  you  preserved  us  from 
death." 

8i 


"  Citizens,"  returned  Apollonius,  "  I 
intrusted  my  daughter  to  Stranguilio  and 
his  wife :  they  would  not  restore  her." 

"  Oh,  my  lord,"  cried  the  unhappy 
woman,  "thou  hast  read  her  fate  in- 
scribed on  the  monument." 

The  king  directed  his  daughter  to 
come  forward ;  and  Tharsia,  reproaching 
her,  said, 

"  Hail,  woman  !  Tharsia  greets  thee ; 
Tharsia  returned  from  the  grave." 

Dionysias  trembled;  and  the  citizens 
wondered  and  rejoiced.  Tharsia  then 
called  the  steward. 

"Theophilus,  dost  thou  know  me? 
Answer  distinctly,  who  employed  thee 
to  murder  me  ?  " 

"  My  lady  Dionysias." 

The  citizens,  hearing  this,  dragged 
both  the  husband  and  wife  out  of  the 
city  and  stoned  them.  They  would 
have  killed  Theophilus  also,  but  Tharsia, 
interposing,  freed  him  from  death.  "  Un- 
less he  had  given  me  time  to  pray,"  she 
said,  "  I  should  not  now  have  been  de- 
fending him." 

Apollonius  tarried  here  three  months, 
82 


and  gave  large  gifts  to  the  city.  Thence 
sailing  to  Pentapolis,  the  old  King  Altis- 
trates  received  them  with  delight.  He 
lived  with  his  son,  and  daughter,  and 
grandchild  a  whole  year  in  happiness. 
After  that  he  died,  full  of  years,  bequeath- 
ing the  kingdom  to  his  son  and  daughter. 

As  Apollonius  walked  one  day  upon 
the  sea-shore,  he  recollected  the  kind- 
hearted  fisherman  who  succoured  him 
after  his  shipwreck,  and  he  ordered  him 
to  be  seized  and  brought  to  the  palace. 
The  poor  fisherman,  perceiving  himself 
under  the  escort  of  a  guard  of  soldiers, 
expected  nothing  less  than  death.  He 
was  conducted  into  the  presence  of  the 
king,  who  said, 

"This  is  my  friend,  who  helped  me 
after  my  shipwreck,  and  showed  me  the 
way  to  the  city." 

And  he  gave  him  to  understand  that 
he  was  Apollonius  of  Tyre.  He  then 
commanded  his  attendants  to  carry  him 
two  hundred  sestertia,  with  men-servants 
and  maid-servants.  Nor  did  his  kind- 
ness stop  here  —  he  made  him  one  of  his 
personal  attendants,  and  retained  him  as 

83 


long  as  he  lived.  Elamitus,  who  de- 
clared to  him  the  intentions  of  Anti- 
ochus,  fell  at  his  feet,  and  said, 

"  My  lord,  remember  thy  servant 
Elamitus."  Apollonius,  extending  his 
hand,  raised  him  up,  and  enriched  him. 
Soon  after  this  a  son  was  born,  whom  he 
appointed  king  in  the  room  of  his  grand- 
father, Altistrates. 

Apollonius  lived  with  his  wife  eighty- 
four  years ;  and  ruled  the  kingdoms  of 
Antioch  and  Tyre  in  peace  and  happi- 
ness. He  wrote  two  volumes  of  his 
adventures,  one  of  which  he  laid  up  in 
the  temple  of  the  Ephesians,  and  the 
other  in  his  own  library.  After  death, 
he  went  into  everlasting  life.  To  which 
may  God,  of  His  infinite  mercy,  lead  us 
all. 


84 


II. 


STORY    OF    THE    KNIGHT,    GUY  OF    WAR- 
WICK 


In  the  reign  of  a  certain  King  of 
England,  there  were  two  knights,  one  of 
whom  was  called  Guido,  and  the  other 
Tyrius.  The  former  engaged  in  many 
wars,  and  always  triumphed.  He  was 
enamoured  of  a  beautiful  girl  of  noble 
family,  but  whom  he  could  not  prevail 
upon  to  marry  him,  until  he  had  encoun- 
8s 


tered  many  enemies  for  her  sake.  At 
last,  at  the  conclusion  of  a  particular 
exploit,  he  gained  her  consent,  and 
married  her  with  great  splendour.  On 
the  third  night  succeeding  their  nuptials, 
about  cock-crowing,  he  arose  from  his 
bed  to  look  upon  the  sky  ;  and  amongst 
the  most  lustrous  stars  he  clearly  distin- 
guished our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  said, 
"  Guido,  Guido  !  you  have  fought  much 
and  valiantly  for  the  love  of  a  woman ; 
it  is  now  time  that  you  should  encounter 
my  enemies  with  equal  resolution." 

Having  so  said,  our  Lord  vanished. 
Guido,  therefore,  perceiving  that  it  was 
His  pleasure  to  send  him  to  the  Holy 
Land,  to  avenge  Him  upon  the  infidels, 
returned  to  his  wife  : 

"  I  go  to  the  Holy  Land ;  should 
Providence  bless  us  with  a  child,  attend 
carefully  to  its  education  until  my  re- 
turn." 

The  lady,  startled  at  these  words, 
sprung  up  from  the  bed  as  one  distracted, 
and  catching  a  dagger,  which  was  placed 
at  the  head  of  the  couch,  cried  out, 

"  Oh,  my  lord,  I  have  always  loved 
86 


you,  and  looked  forward  with  anxiety  to 
our  marriage,  even  when  you  were  in 
battle,  and  spreading  your  fame  over  all 
the  world ;  and  will  you  now  leave  me  ? 
First  will  I  stab  myself  with  this  dagger." 

Guido  arose,  and  took  away  the 
weapon. 

"  My  beloved,"  said  he,  "  your  words 
alarm  me.  I  have  vowed  to  God  that  I 
will  visit  the  Holy  Land.  The  best 
opportunity  is  the  present,  before  old 
age  come  upon  me.  Be  not  disturbed ; 
I  will  soon  return." 

Somewhat  comforted  with  this  assur- 
ance, she  presented  to  him  a  ring: 
"Take  this  ring,  and  as  often  as  you 
look  upon  it  in  your  pilgrimage,  think  of 
me.  I  will  await  with  patience  your 
return." 

The  knight  bade  her  farewell,  and 
departed  in  company  with  Tyrius.  As 
for  the  lady,  she  gave  herself  up  to  her 
sorrows  for  many  days,  and  would  not 
be  consoled.  In  due  time  she  brought 
forth  a  son  of  extreme  beauty,  and 
tenderly  watched  over  his  infant  years. 

Guido  and  Tyrius,  in  the  mean  while, 

57 


passed  through  many  countries,  and  heard 
at  last  that  the  kingdom  of  Dacia  had 
been  subdued  by  the  infidels. 

"  My  friend,"  said  Guido  to  his  asso- 
ciate, "  do  you  enter  this  kingdom ;  and 
since  the  king  of  it  is  a  Christian,  assist 
him  with  all  your  power.  I  will  proceed 
to  the  Holy  Land;  and  when  I  have 
combated  against  the  foes  of  Christ,  I 
will  return  to  you,  and  we  will  joyfully 
retrace  our  steps  to  England." 

"Whatever  pleases  you,"  replied  his 
friend,  "  shall  please  me.  I  will  enter 
this  kingdom ;  and  if  you  live,  come  to 
me.  Wc  will  return  together  to  our 
country." 

Guido  promised ;  and  exchanging 
kisses,  they  separated  with  much  regret. 
The  one  proceeded  to  the  Holy  Land, 
and  the  other  to  Dacia.  Guido  fought 
many  battles  against  the  Saracens,  and 
was  victorious  in  all ;  so  that  his  fame 
flew  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  Tyrius, 
in  like  manner,  proved  fortunate  in  war, 
and  drove  the  infidels  from  the  Dacian 
territory.  The  king  loved  and  honoured 
him  above  all  others,  and  conferred  on 
33 


him  great  riches.  But  there  was  at  that 
time  a  savage  nobleman,  called  Plebeus, 
in  whose  heart  the  prosperity  of  Tyrius 
excited  an  inordinate  degree  of  hate  and 
envy.  He  accused  him  to  the  king  of 
treason,  and  malevolently  insinuated  that 
he  designed  to  make  himself  master  of 
the  kingdom.  The  king  credited  the 
assertion,  and  ungratefully  robbed  Tyrius 
of  all  the  honours  which  his  bounty  had 
conferred.  Tyrius,  therefore,  was  re- 
duced to  extreme  want,  and  had  scarcely 
the  common  sustenance  of  life.  Thus 
desolate,  he  gave  free  course  to  his  griefs ; 
and  exclaimed  in  great  tribulation, 

"  Wretch  that  I  am  !  what  will  become 
of  me  ?  " 


89 


II. 


While  he  was  taking  a  solitary  walk 
in  sorrow,  Guido,  journeying  alone  in 
the  habit  of  a  pilgrim,  met  him  by  the 
way,  and  knew  him,  but  was  not  recog- 
nized by  his  friend.  He,  however,  pres- 
ently remembered  Tyrius,  and  retaining 
his  disguise,  approached  him,  and  said, 
"  My  friend,  from  whence   are  you  ? " 

"From  foreign  parts,"  answered 
Tyrius,  "but  I  have  now  been  many 
years  in  this  country.  I  had  once  a 
companion  in  arms,  who  proceeded  to 
the  Holy  Land;  but  if  he  be  alive  or 
dead  I  know  not,  nor  what  have  been  his 
fortunes." 

"  For   the    love    of    thy    companion, 
then,"  said  Guido,  "  suffer  me  to  rest  my 
head  upon  your  lap,  and  sleep  a  little, 
for  I  am  very  weary." 
90 


He  assented,  and  Guido  fell  asleep. 

Now,  while  he  slept,  his  mouth  stood 
open ;  and  as  Tyrius  looked,  he  discov- 
ered a  white  weasel  pass  out  of  it,  and 
run  toward  a  neighbouring  mountain, 
which  it  entered.  After  remaining  there 
a  short  space,  it  returned,  and  again  ran 
down  the  sleeper's  throat.  Guido  straight- 
way awoke  and  said, 

"  My  friend,  I  have  had  a  wonderful 
dream  !  I  thought  a  weasel  went  out  of 
my  mouth,  and  entered  yon  mountain, 
and  after  that  returned." 

"Sir,"  answered  Tyrius,  "what  you 
have  seen  in  a  dream  I  beheld  with  my 
own  eyes.  But  what  that  weasel  did  in 
the  mountain,  I  am  altogether  ignorant." 

"Let  us  go  and  look,"  observed  the 
other ;  "  perhaps  we  may  find  something 
useful." 

Accordingly,  they  entered  the  place 
which  the  weasel  had  been  seen  to  enter, 
and  found  there  a  dead  dragon  filled  with 
gold.  There  was  a  sword  also,  of  pecul- 
iar polish,  and  inscribed  as  follows  :  "  By 
means  of  this  sword,  Guido  shall  over- 
come the  adversary  of  Tyrius." 
91 


Rejoiced  at  the  discovery,  the  dis- 
guised pilgrim  said,  "My  friend,  the 
treasure  is  thine,  but  the  sword  I  will 
take  into  my  own  possession." 

"  My  lord,"  he  answered,  "  I  do  not 
deserve  so  much  gold  ;  why  should  you 
bestow  it  upon  me  ?  " 

"  Raise  your  eyes,"  said  Guido.  "  I 
am  your  friend  !  " 

Hearing  this,  he  looked  at  him  more 
narrowly;  and  when  he  recollected  his 
heroic  associate,  he  fell  upon  the  earth 
for  joy,  and  wept  exceedingly. 

"  It  is  enough ;  I  have  lived  enough, 
now  that  I  have  seen  you." 

"  Rise,"  returned  Guido,"  rise  quickly; 
you  ought  to  rejoice  rather  than  weep  at 
my  coming.  I  will  combat  your  enemy, 
and  we  will  proceed  honourably  to  Eng- 
land.    But  tell  no  one  who  I  am." 

Tyrius  arose,  fell  upon  his  neck,  and 
kissed  him.  He  then  collected  the  gold, 
and  hastened  to  his  home;  but  Guido 
knocked  at  the  gate  of  the  king's  palace. 
The  porter  inquired  the  cause,  and  he 
informed  him  that  he  was  a  pilgrim 
newly  arrived  from  the  Holy  Land.  He 
92 


was  immediately  admitted,  and  presented 
to  the  king,  at  whose  side  sat  the  invidi- 
ous nobleman  who  had  deprived  Tyrius 
of  his  honours  and  wealth. 

"  Is  the  Holy  Land  at  peace  ?  "  inquired 
the  monarch. 

"  Peace  is  now  firmly  established," 
replied  Guido,  "and  many  have  been 
converted  to  Christianity." 

King.  Did  you  see  an  English  knight 
there,  called  Guido,  who  has  fought  so 
many  battles  ? 

Guido.  I  have  seen  him  often,  my 
lord,  and  have  eaten  with  him. 

King.  Is  any  mention  made  of  the 
Christian  kings  ? 

Guido.  Yes,  my  lord;  and  of  you 
also.  It  is  said  that  the  Saracens  and 
other  infidels  had  taken  possession  of 
your  kingdom,  and  that  from  their  thral- 
dom you  were  delivered  by  the  valour 
of  a  noble  knight,  named  Tyrius,  after- 
wards promoted  to  great  honour  and 
riches.  It  is  likewise  said  that  you  un- 
justly deprived  this  same  Tyrius  of  what 
you  had  conferred,  at  the  malevolent  in- 
stigation of  a  knight  called  Plebeus. 
93 


Plebeus,  False  pilgrim !  since  thou 
presumest  to  utter  these  lies,  hast  thou 
courage  enough  to  defend  them  ?  If  so, 
I  offer  thee  battle.  That  very  Tyrius 
would  have  dethroned  the  king.  He 
was  a  traitor,  and  therefore  lost  his 
honours. 

Guido  (to  the  king).  My  lord,  since 
he  has  been  pleased  to  say  that  I  am  a 
false  pilgrim,  and  that  Tyrius  is  a  traitor, 
I  demand  the  combat.  I  will  prove 
upon  his  body  that  he  lies. 

King.  I  am  well  pleased  with  your 
determination ;  nay,  I  entreat  you  not  to 
desist. 

Guido.  Furnish  me  with  arms,  then, 
my  lord. 

King.  Whatever  you  want  shall  be 
got  ready  for  you. 

The  king  then  appointed  a  day  of 
battle  ;  and  fearing  lest  the  pilgrim  Guido 
should  in  the  mean  time  fall  by  treach- 
ery, he  called  to  him  his  daughter,  a  vir- 
gin, and  said, 

"  As  you  love  the  life  of  that  pilgrim, 
watch  over  him,  and  let  him  want  for 
nothing." 

94 


In  compliance,  therefore,  with  her 
father's  wish,  she  brought  him  into  her 
own  chamber,  bathed  him,  and  supplied 
him  with  every  requisite.  On  the  day 
of  battle  Plebeus  armed  himself,  and 
standing  at  the  gate,  exclaimed, 

"  Where  is  that  false  pilgrim  ?  why 
does   he  tarry  ?  " 

Guido,  hearing  what  was  said,  put  on 
his  armour,  and  hastened  to  the  lists. 
They  fought  so  fiercely,  that  Plebeus 
would  have  died  had  he  not  drank.  Ad- 
dressing his  antagonist,  he  said,  "  Good 
pilgrim,  let  me  have  one  draught  of 
water." 

"  I  consent,"  answered  Guido,  "  pro- 
vided you  faithfully  promise  to  use  the 
same  courtesy  to  me,  should  I  require 
it." 

"  I  promise,"  replied  the  other.  Hav- 
ing quenched  his  thirst,  he  rushed  on 
Guido,  and  they  continued  the  battle 
with  redoubled  animosity.  By  and  by, 
however,  Guido  himself  thirsted,  and  re- 
quired the  same  courtesy  to  be  shown 
him  as  he  had  exhibited. 

"  I  vow  to  Heaven,"  answered  his 
95 


enemy,  "that  you  shall    taste   nothing, 
except  by  the  strong  hand." 

At  this  ungrateful  return,  Guido,  de- 
fending himself  as  well  as  he  could,  ap- 
proached the  water,  leaped  in,  and  drank 
as  much  as  he  wished.  Then  springing 
out,  he  rushed  like  a  raging  lion  upon 
the  treacherous  Plebeus,  who  at  last 
sought  refuge  in  flight.  The  king,  ob- 
serving what  passed,  caused  them  to  be 
separated,  and  to  rest  for  that  night,  that 
in  the  morning  they  might  be  ready  to 
renew  the  contest.  The  pilgrim  then 
reentered  his  chamber,  and  received  from 
the  king's  daughter  all  the  kindness  it 
was  in  her  power  to  display.  She  bound 
up  his  wounds,  prepared  supper,  and 
placed  him  upon  a  strong  wooden  pallet. 
Wearied  with  the  exertions  of  the  day, 
he  fell  asleep. 


96 


m. 


Now,  Plebeus  had  seven  sons,  all 
strong  men.  He  sent  for  them,  and 
spoke  thus :  "  My  dear  children,  I  give 
you  to  understand  that,  unless  this  pil- 
grim be  destroyed  to-night,  I  may  reckon 
myself  among  the  dead  to-morrow.  I 
never  looked  upon  a  braver  man." 

"  My  dear  father,"  said  one,  "  we  will 
presently  get  rid  of  him." 

About  midnight,  therefore,  they  en- 
97 


tered  the  girl's  chamber,  where  the  pil- 
grim slept,  and  beneath  which  the  sea 
flowed.  They  said  to  one  another,  "  If 
we  destroy  him  in  bed,  we  are  no  better 
than  dead  men  :  let  us  toss  him,  bed  and 
all,  into  the  sea.  It  will  be  thought  that 
he  has  fled." 

This  scheme  was  approved;  and  ac- 
cordingly they  took  up  the  sleeping  war- 
rior, and  hurled  him  into  the  waves.  He 
slept  on,  however,  without  perceiving 
what  had  happened.  The  same  night 
a  fisherman,  following  his  occupation, 
heard  the  fall  of  the  bed,  and  by  the 
light  of  the  moon  saw  him  floating  upon 
the  water.  Much  surprised,  he  called 
out, 

"  In  the  name  of  God,  who  are  you  ? 
Speak,  that  I  may  render  assistance,  be- 
fore the  waves  swallow  you  up." 

Guido,  awoke  by  the  clamour,  arose, 
and  perceiving  the  sky  and  stars  above, 
and  the  ocean  beneath,  wondered  where 
he  was. 

"  Good  friend,"  said  he  to  the  fisher- 
man, "  assist  me,  and  I  will  amply  re- 
ward you.     I  am  the  pilgrim  who  fought 

98 


in  the  lists ;  but  how  I  got  hither,  I  have 
no  conception." 

The  man,  hearing  this,  took  him  into 
his  vessel,  and  conveyed  him  to  his 
house,  where  he  rested  till  the  morning. 

The  sons  of  Plebeus,  in  the  mean 
while,  related  what  they  thought  the  end 
of  the  pilgrim,  and  bade  their  parent 
discard  his  fear.  The  latter,  much  exhil- 
arated, arose,  and  armed  himself;  and 
going  to  the  gate  of  the  palace,  called  out, 

"  Bring  forth  that  pilgrim,  that  I  may 
complete  my  revenge." 

The  king  commanded  his  daughter  to 
awake  and  prepare  him  for  battle.  Ac- 
cordingly, she  went  into  his  room,  but 
he  was  not  to  be  found.  She  wept 
bitterly,  exclaiming  that  some  one  had 
conveyed  away  her  treasure ;  and  the  sur- 
prise occasioned  by  the  intelligence  was 
not  less,  when  it  became  known  that 
his  bed  was  also  missing.  Some  said 
that  he  had  fled ;  others,  that  he  was 
murdered.  Plebeus,  however,  continued 
his  clamour  at  the  gate. 

"  Bring   out   your   pilgrim ;    to-day   I 
will  present  his  head  to  the  king." 
99 


Now,  while  all  was  bustle  and  inquiry 
in  the  palace,  the  fisherman  made  his 
way  to  the  royal  seat,  and  said, 

"  Grieve  not,  my  lord,  for  the  loss  of 
the  pilgrim.  Fishing  last  night  in  the 
sea,  I  observed  him  floating  upon  a  bed. 
I  took  him  on  board  my  vessel,  and  he 
is  now  asleep  at  my  house." 

This  news  greatly  cheered  the  king, 
and  he  immediately  sent  to  him  to  pre- 
pare for  a  renewal  of  the  contest.  But 
Plebeus,  terrified,  and  apprehensive  of 
the  consequence,  besought  a  truce.  This 
was  denied,  even  for  a  single  hour. 
Both,  therefore,  re-entered  the  lists,  and 
each  struck  twice ;  but  at  the  third  blow 
Guido  cut  ofF  his  opponent's  arm,  and 
afterwards  his  head.  He  presented  it  to 
the  king,  who  evinced  himself  well  satis- 
fied with  the  event ;  and  hearing  that  the 
sons  of  Plebeus  were  instruments  in  the 
meditated  treachery,  he  caused  them  to 
be  crucified.  The  pilgrim  was  loaded 
with  honours,  and  offered  immense  wealth 
if  he  would  remain  with  the  king,  which 
he  resolutely  declined.  Through  him 
Tyrius  was  reinstated  in  his  former 
lOO 


dignity,  and  recompensed  for  his  past 
suffering.  He  then  bade  the  king  fare- 
well. :    '*■/.: 

"  Good  friend,"  returned  thi^  ilionarcrh, 
"for  the  love  of  heaven*  leave- me aiot 
ignorant  of  your  name." 

"  My  lord,"  answered  he,  "  I  am  that 
Guido  of  whom  you  have  often  heard." 

Overjoyed  at  this  happy  discovery, 
the  king  fell  upon  his  neck,  and  promised 
him  a  large  part  of  his  dominions  if  he 
would  remain.  But  he  could  not  pre- 
vail; and  the  warrior,  after  returning 
his  friendly  salutation,  departed. 


lOI 


IV. 


GuiDO  embarked  for  England,  and 
hastened  to  his  own  castle.  He  found  a 
great  number  of  paupers  standing  about 
his  gate ;  and  amongst  them,  habited  as 
a  pilgrim,  sat  the  countess,  his  wife. 
Every  day  did  she  thus  minister  to  the 
poor,  bestowing  a  penny  upon  each,  with 
a  request  that  he  would  pray  for  the 
safety  of  her  husband  Guido,  that  once 
more,  before  death,  she  might  rejoice  in 
his  presence.  It  happened,  on  the  very 
day  of  his  return,  that  his  son,  now 
seven  years  of  age,  sat  with  his  mother 
among  the  mendicants,  sumptuously  ap- 
parelled. When  he  heard  his  mother 
address  the  person  who  experienced  her 
bounty  in  the  manner  mentioned  above, 

"Mother,"  said  he,  "is  it  not  my 
1 02 


father  whom  you  recommend  to  the 
prayers  of  these  poor  people  ?  " 

"It  is,  my  son,"  replied  she;  "the 
third  night  following  our  marriage  he 
left  me,  and  I  have  never  seen  him 
since." 

Now,  as  the  lady  walked  among  her 
dependents,  who  were  ranged  in  order, 
she  approached  her  own  husband  Guido, 
and  gave  him  alms  —  but  she  knew  not 
who  he  was.  He  bowed  his  head  in 
acknowledgment,  fearful  lest  his  voice 
should  discover  him.  As  the  countess 
walked,  her  son  followed ;  and  Guido 
raising  his  eyes  and  seeing  his  offspring, 
whom  he  had  not  before  seen,  he  could 
not  contain  himself.  He  caught  him  in 
his  arms,  and  kissed  him. 

"My  darling  child,"  said  he,  "may 
the  Lord  give  thee  grace  to  do  that 
which  is  pleasing  in  His  eyes." 

The  damsels  of  the  lady,  observing 
the  emotion  and  action  of  the  pilgrim, 
called  to  him  and  bade  him  stand  there 
no  longer.  He  approached  his  wife's 
presence,  and  without  making  himself 
known,  entreated  of  her  permission  to 
103 


occupy  some  retired  place  in  the  neigh- 
bouring forest ;  and  she,  supposing  that 
he  was  the  pilgrim  he  appeared  to  be, 
for  the  love  of  God  and  of  her  husband 
built  him  a  hermitage,  and  there  he  re- 
mained a  long  time.  But  being  on  the 
point  of  death,  he  called  his  attendant, 
and  said, 

"  Go  quickly  to  the  countess  j  give 
her  that  ring,  and  say  that  if  she  wishes 
to  see  me,  she  must  come  hither  with  all 
speed." 

The  messenger  went  accordingly,  and 
delivered  the  ring.  As  soon  as  she  had 
seen  it,  she  exclaimed,  "  It  is  my  lord's 
ring ! "  and  with  a  fleet  foot  hurried  into 
the  forest.     But  Guido  was  dead. 

She  fell  upon  the  corpse,  and  with  a 
loud  voice  cried,  "  Woe  is  me  !  my  hope 
is  extinct !  "  and  then  with  sighs  and 
lamentations  continued,  "  Where  are 
now  the  alms  I  distributed  in  behalf  of 
my  lord  ?  I  beheld  my  husband  receive 
my  gifts  with  his  own  hands,  and  knew 
him  not.  And  as  for  thee"  (apostro- 
phizing the  dead  body),  "thou  sawest 
thy  child,  and  touchedst  him.  Thou 
104 


didst  kiss  him,  and  yet  revealedst  not 
thyself  to  me  !  What  hast  thou  done  ? 
Oh,  Guido !  Guido !  never  shall  I  see 
thee  more  !  "  She  sumptuously  interred 
his  body;  and  bewailed  his  decease  for 
many  days. 


105 


III. 


ALLEGORY    OF    THE    FAIR 


A  CERTAIN  king  once  went  to  a  fair, 
and  took  with  him  a  preceptor  and  his 
scholar.  Standing  in  the  market-place, 
they  perceived  eight  packages  exposed 
for  sale.  The  scholar  questioned  his 
1 06 


teacher  respecting  the  first  of  them. 
"  Pray,"  said  he,  "  what  is  the  price  of 
poverty  —  that  is,  of  tribulation  for  the 
love  of  God  ?  " 

Preceptor,  The  kingdom  of  heaven. 

Scholar,  It  is  a  great  price  indeed. 
Open  the  second  package,  and  let  us 
see  what  it  contains. 

Preceptor.  It  contains  meekness : 
blessed  are  the  meek. 

Scholar,  Meekness,  indeed,  is  a  very 
illustrious  thing,  and  worthy  of  divine 
majesty.     What  is  its  price  ? 

Preceptor,  Gold  shall  not  be  given 
for  it ;  nor  shall  silver  be  weighed  against 
it.  I  demand  earth  for  it ;  and  nothing 
but  earth  will  I  receive. 

Scholar,  There  is  a  spacious  tract  of 
uninhabited  country  between  India  and 
Britain.  Take  as  much  of  it  as  you 
please. 

Preceptor,  No;  this  land  is  the  land 
of  the  dying,  the  land  which  devours  its 
inhabitants.  Men  die  there.  I  demand 
the  land  of  the  living. 

Scholar,  I  muse  at  what  you  say. 
All  die,  and  would  you  alone  be  exempt  ? 
107 


Would  you  live  for  ever  ?  Behold, 
blessed  are  the  meek,  for  they  shall 
inherit  the  earth.  What  is  there  in 
the  third  package  ? 

Preceptor.   Hunger  and  thirst. 

Scholar,  For  how  much  may  these  be 
purchased  ? 

Preceptor,  For  righteousness.  Blessed 
are  they  who  hunger  and  thirst  after 
righteousness,  for  they  shall  be  filled. 

Scholar,  Therefore  you  shall  possess 
righteousness,  provided  there  be  no 
neglect.     What  does  the  fourth  contain  ? 

Preceptor,  Tears,  wailings,  and  woe; 
Moisture  above,  and  moisture  below. 

Scholar,  It  is  not  customary  to  buy 
tears  and  wailings,  yet  I  will  buy  it ; 
because  the  saints  desire  it  at  this  price. 
Blessed  are  they  who  mourn,  for  they 
shall  be  comforted.  What  is  the  fifth 
package  ? 

Preceptor,  It  is  a  precious  thing,  and 
contains  mercy,  which  I  will  weigh  to 
please  you.  At  a  word,  I  will  take 
mercy  for  mercy,  eternity  for  time. 

Scholar,  You  were  a  bad  umpire  to 
ask  this,  unless  mercy  should  plead  for 
lo8 


you.  Nevertheless,  she  shall  become 
your  surety.  And  blessed  are  the  mer- 
ciful, for  they  shall  obtain  mercy.  In 
this  life  we  abound  in  poverty  and 
wretchedness  and  hardship.  Undo  the 
sixth  package;  perhaps  it  may  contain 
something  better. 

Preceptor,  It  is  clearly  full;  but  it 
loves  not,  like  a  purple  robe,  to  be  ex- 
posed before  the  common  eye ;  ypu  shall 
see  it  in  private,  and  there  we  will  agree 
about  the  price. 

Scholar,  Very  well ;  what  is  it  ? 

Preceptor,  Purity;  which  is  extremely 
valuable.  There  are  gold  and  silver 
vases,  namely,  piety,  goodness,  charity, 
and  spiritual  joy.  Now,  then,  let  us 
open  these  precious  garments.  Here  are 
lectures,  meditations,  prayers,  and  con- 
templations. The  judgments  of  the 
Lord  are  justified  in  themselves,  and 
more  to  be  desired  than  gold  and  pre- 
cious stones. 

Scholar,  There  is  a  great  reward  in  the 
possession.  Ask,  therefore,  what  ye 
will. 

Preceptor,  To  see  God. 
109 


Scholar,  Therefore,  blessed  are  the 
pure  in  heart,  for  they  shall  see  God. 
Open  the  seventh  package. 

Preceptor,  It  contains  peace. 

Scholar,  What !  are  you  going  to  sell 
me  your  peace  ? 

Preceptor,  It  does  not  accord  with  my 
poverty,  nor  would  it  with  your  justice 
and  great  wealth,  to  take  anything  of  me 
for  nothing.  But  your  liberality  will 
make  me  rich.  What  then  ?  I  am  a 
mean  country  fellow,  and  made  of  clay  5 
formed  of  the  very  dust  of  the  earth. 
My  want  of  nobility  oppresses  me,  and 
I  would  no  longer  bear  the  reproach 
which  says,  "  You  are  earth,  and  to  earth 
you  shall  go."  I  would  rather  have  it 
said  to  me,  "  You  are  heaven,  and  to 
heaven  you  shall  go."  I  eagerly  desire 
to  fulfil  the  destiny  of  the  sons  of  God ; 
I  would  become  a  son  of  God. 

Scholar,  I  have  done :  I  confess  the 
truth,  and  distrust  you  no  longer. 
Blessed  are  the  peace-makers,  for  they 
shall  be  called  the  sons  of  God.  If, 
therefore,  you  preserve  the  love  of  a  son, 
you  shall  receive  the  paternal  inheritance, 
no 


Now,  what  is  contained  in  the  last  pack- 
age ?     Explain  it. 

Preceptor,  It  contains  only  tribulation 
and  persecution  for  the  sake  of  right- 
eousness. 

Scholar,  And  what  do  you  want  for  it  ? 

Preceptor,  The  kingdom  of  heaven. 

Scholar,  I  gave  you  that  as  the  price 
of  poverty ! 

Preceptor.  True;  but  month  after 
month,  week  after  week,  man  wanders 
in  his  wishes.  You  are  mistaken  :  I  ask 
this  for  the  present  week  or  month ;  as 
to  the  future  I  wait  humbly. 

Scholar,  I  marvel  at  your  sagacity  in 
making  a  bargain.  Now  hear,  good  and 
faithful  servant !  because  thou  hast  been 
faithful  over  a  few  things,  I  will  appoint 
thee  lord  over  many :  enter  thou  into  the 
joy  of  thy  lord. 


Ill 


IV. 

OF    THE    world's    WONDERS 

Pliny  says  that  there  are  certain  men 
who  have  the  heads  of  dogs ;  who  bark 
when  they  converse,  and  clothe  them- 
selves in  the  skins  of  animals.  These 
represent  preachers,  who  ought  to  be 
coarsely  clad,  as  an  example  to  others.  — 
Also  in  India  there  are  men  who  possess 
a  single  eye,  which  is  placed  in  the  fore- 
head. They  live  upon  the  flesh  of  ani- 
mals. These  are  they  who  have  the  eye 
of  reason. 

In  Africa  there  are  women  without 
heads,  having  eyes  and  mouth  in  their 
breasts.  Such  are  like  humble  men.  — 
In  the  East,  over  against  the  terrestrial 
Paradise,  are  people  who  never  eat,  and 
whose  mouth  is  so  small  that  what  they 
112 


drink  is  conveyed  into  the  stomach  by 
means  of  a  reed.  They  live  upon  the 
odour  of  apples  and  flowers  j  and  a  bad 
smell  instantly  destroys  them.  These 
designate  abstemious  men ;  and  to  die  of 
an  ill  odour  is  to  die  of  sin.  —  There  are 
men  without  a  nose,  but  otherwise  with 
complete  faces ;  and  whatsoever  they  sec 
they  think  good.  Such  are  the  foolish 
of  the  world.  —  And  there  are  some 
whose  nose  and  lower  lip  is  so  long,  that 
it  covers  all  the  face,  while  they  sleep. 
These  are  just  men.  —  In  Scythia  are 
men  with  ears  that  completely  envelop 
their  whole  body.  These  represent  such 
as  listen  to  the  word  of  God.  —  Some 
men  there  are  who  walk  like  cattle,  and 
these  are  they  who  honour  neither  God 
nor  His  saints.  —  There  are  likewise 
people  who  are  horned,  having  short 
noses  and  the  feet  of  a  goat.  These  are 
the  proud.  —  In  ^Ethiopia  are  men  with 
but  one  leg,  whose  velocity  nevertheless 
is  such,  that  they  run  down  the  swiftest 
animal.  These  are  the  charitable.  —  In 
India  are  pygmies  two  cubits  long  ;  they 
ride  upon  goats,  and  make  war  against 
113 


the  cranes.  These  are  they  who  begin 
well,  but  cease  before  they  are  perfect. 
—  In  India  there  are  also  men  who 
possess  six  hands.  They  are  without 
clothes,  but  are  extremely  hairy,  and 
dwell  in  rivers.  These  are  the  zealous 
workers  who  labour  and  obtain  eternal 
life.  —  There,  too,  are  men  who  have 
six  fingers  on  each  hand,  and  six  toes  on 
each  foot;  during  the  week  they  keep 
themselves  pure,  and  on  the  seventh  day 
sanctify  themselves.  —  Certain  women 
there  are  bearded  to  the  breast ;  but  their 
heads  are  totally  bare.  These  represent 
men  who  obey  the  Church,  and  are 
turned  from  that  course  neither  by  love 
nor  by  hatred.  —  In  Ethiopia  there  are 
men  with  four  eyes  each.  These  are 
they  who  fear  God,  the  world,  the  devil, 
and  the  flesh.  They  turn  one  eye  to 
God,  to  live  well ;  another  to  the  world, 
to  flee  from  it ;  a  third  to  the  devil,  to 
resist  him ;  and  the  last  to  the  flesh,  to 
chastise  it.  —  In  Europe  are  very  beauti- 
ful men ;  but  they  have  a  crane's  head, 
and  neck,  and  beak.  These  designate 
judges,  who  ought  to  have  long  necks 
114 


and  beaks,  in  order  that  what  the  heart 
thinks  may  be  long  before  it  reaches  the 
mouth.  If  all  judges  were  thus  we 
should  have  fewer  injudicious  awards. 


j^^4^ 


"S 


STORY    OF    THE    KNIGHT    PLACIDUS 


In  the  reign  of  Trajan  there  lived  a 
knight  named  Placid  us,  who  was  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  emperor's  armies. 
He  was  of  a  very  merciful  disposition, 
but  a  worshipper  of  idols.  His  wife 
also  participated  in  the  same  feelings, 
and  adhered  to  the  same  religious  rites. 
They  had  two  sons,  educated  in  all  the 
magnificence  of  their  age  and  station ; 
and  from  the  general  kindness  and  good- 
ness of  their  hearts,  they  merited  a  reve- 
lation of  the  way  of  truth. 

As  he  was  one  day  following  the 
Ii6 


chase,  he  discovered  a  herd  of  deer, 
amongst  which  was  one  remarkable  for 
the  beauty  and  magnitude  of  its  form. 
Separating  itself  from  the  rest,  it  plunged 
into  the  thicker  part  of  the  brake.  While 
the  hunters,  therefore,  occupied  them- 
selves with  the  remainder  of  the  herd, 
Placidus  gave  his  attention  to  the  noble 
animal  in  question,  and  followed  the 
course  it  had  taken  with  all  the  celerity 
in  his  power.  While  he  was  giving  all 
his  strength  to  the  pursuit,  the  stag  at 
length  scaled  a  lofty  precipice,  and  Placi- 
dus, approaching  as  near  to  it  as  he 
could,  considered  by  what  means  it 
might  be  secured. 

But  as  he  regarded  it  with  fixed  atten- 
tion, there  appeared,  impressed  upon  the 
centre  of  the  brow,  the  form  of  the  cross, 
which  glittered  with  greater  splendour 
than  a  meridian  sun.  Upon  this  cross 
an  image  of  Jesus  Christ  was  suspended ; 
and  as  formerly  happened  to  the  ass  of 
Balaam,  utterance  was  supplied  to  the 
stag,  which  thus  addressed  the  hunter: 
"  Why  dost  thou  persecute  me,  Placidus  ? 
For  thy  sake  have  I  assumed  the  shape 
117 


of  this  animal :  I  am  Christ  whom  thou 
ignorantly  worshippest.  Thine  alms 
have  gone  up  before  Me,  and  therefore 
I  come,  that  as  thou  hast  hunted  this 
stag,  so  may  I  hunt  thee." 

Some  indeed  assert  that  the  image, 
hanging  between  the  deer's  antlers,  said 
these  things.  However  that  may  be, 
Placidus,  filled  with  terror,  fell  from  his 
horse ;  and  in  about  an  hour  returning  to 
himself,  arose  from  the  earth,  and  said, 

"  Declare  what  Thou  sayest,  that  I 
may  believe  in  Thee." 

''  I  am  Christ,  O  Placidus  !  I  created 
heaven  and  earth ;  I  caused  the  light  to 
arise,  and  divided  it  from  the  darkness. 
I  appointed  days,  and  seasons,  and  years. 
I  formed  man  out  of  the  dust  of  the 
earth;  and  I  became  incarnate  for  the 
salvation  of  mankind.  I  was  crucified, 
and  buried ;  and  on  the  third  day  I  rose 
again." 

When  Placidus  heard  this,  he  fell  again 
upon  the  earth,  and  exclaimed, 

"  I  believe,  O  Lord,  that  Thou  art  He 
that  made  all  things ;  and  that  Thou  art 
He  who  bringest  back  the  wanderer." 
Ii8 


The  Lord  answered, "  If  thou  believest 
this,  go  into  the  city  and  be  baptized." 

"  Wouldst  Thou,  O  Lord,  that  I  im- 
part what  has  befallen  me  to  my  wife 
and  children,  that  they  also  may  be- 
lieve ? " 

"  Do  so ;  tell  them  that  they  also  may 
be  cleansed  from  their  iniquities.  And 
do  you,  on  the  morrow,  return  hither, 
where  I  will  appear  again,  and  show  you 
more  fully  of  the  future." 

Placidus,  therefore,  departed  to  his 
own  home,  and  communicated  all  that 
had  passed  to  his  wife.  But  she,  too, 
had  had  a  revelation ;  and  in  like  man- 
ner had  been  enjoined  to  believe  in 
Christ,  together  with  her  children.  So 
they  hastened  at  midnight  to  the  bishop 
of  the  city  of  Rome,  where  they  were 
entertained  and  baptized  with  great  joy. 
Placidus  was  called  Eustacius,  and  his 
wife,  Theosbyta ;  the  two  sons,  Theos- 
bytus  and  Agapetus.  In  the  morning 
Eustacius,  according  to  custom,  went 
out  to  hunt,  and  coming  with  his  attend- 
ants near  the  place,  he  dispersed  them, 
as  if  for  the  purpose  of  discovering  the 
U9 


prey.  Immediately  the  vision  of  yester- 
day reappeared,  and  prostrating  himself, 
he  said, 

"  I  implore  Thee,  O  Lord,  to  make 
clear  what  Thou  didst  promise  to  Thy 
servant." 

"  Blessed  art  thou,  Eustacius,  because 
thou  hast  received  the  laver  of  My  grace 
and  thereby  overcome  the  devil.  Now 
hast  thou  trod  him  to  dust  who  beguiled 
thee.  Now  will  thy  fidelity  appear;  for 
the  devil,  whom  thou  hast  deserted,  is 
arming  himself  against  thee  in  a  variety 
of  ways.  Much  must  thou  undergo  ere 
thou  possessest  the  crown  of  victory. 
Much  must  thou  suffer  that  thou  mayst 
be  humbled,  and  abandon  the  deep- 
seated  vanity  of  this  world,  and  once 
more  be  raised  by  spiritual  wealth.  Fail 
not,  therefore,  nor  look  back  upon  thy 
former  condition.  Thou  must  demon- 
strate thyself  another  Job ;  but  from  the 
very  depth  of  thy  humiliation,  I  will  re- 
store thee  to  the  summit  of  earthly 
splendour.  Choose,  then,  whether  thou 
wouldst  prefer  thy  trials  now,  or  at  the 
conclusion  of  life." 

J  20 


Eustacius  replied,  "  If  it  become  me, 
O  Lord,  to  be  exposed  to  trials,  let  them 
presently  approach ;  but  do  Thou  uphold 
me,  and  supply  me  with  patient  fortitude." 

"  Be  bold,  Eustacius  :  My  grace  shall 
support  your  souls." 

Saying  thus,  the  Lord  ascended  into 
heaven.  After  which  Eustacius  returned 
home  to  his  wife,  and  explained  to  her 
what  had  been  decreed.  In  a  few  days 
a  pestilence  carried  ofF  the  whole  of  their 
men-servants  and  maid-servants;  and 
before  long  the  sheep,  horses,  and  cattle 
also  perished.  Robbers  plundered  their 
habitation,  and  despoiled  them  of  every 
ornament;  while  he  himself,  together 
with  his  wife  and  sons,  fled  naked  and  in 
the  deepest  distress.  But  devoutly  they 
worshipped  God ;  and,  apprehensive  of 
an  Egyptian  redness,  went  secretly  away. 
Thus  were  they  reduced  to  utter  poverty. 

The  king  and  the  senate,  greatly  af- 
flicted with  their  general's  calamities, 
sought  for,  but  found  not  the  slightest 
trace  of  him.  In  the  mean  time  this  un- 
happy family  approached  the  sea ;  and  find- 
ing a  ship  ready  to  sail,  they  embarked  in 
121 


it.  The  master  of  the  vessel  observing  that 
the  wife  of  Eustacius  was  very  beautiful, 
determined  to  secure  her ;  and  when  they 
had  crossed  the  sea,  demanded  their  pas- 
sage money,  which,  as  he  anticipated, 
they  did  not  possess.  Notwithstanding 
the  vehement  and  indignant  protestations 
of  Eustacius,  he  seized  upon  his  wife ; 
and,  beckoning  to  the  mariners,  com- 
manded them  to  cast  the  unfortunate 
husband  headlong  into  the  sea.  Per- 
ceiving, therefore,  that  all  opposition  was 
useless,  he  took  up  his  two  children,  and 
departed  with  much  and  heavy  sorrow. 

"  Alas  for  me  and  for  you ! "  he  ex- 
claimed, as  he  wept  over  his  bereaved 
offspring ;  "  your  poor  mother  is  lost,  and 
in  a  strange  land,  in  the  arms  of  a  strange 
lord,  must  lament  her  fate." 

Travelling  along,  he  came  to  a  river, 
the  water  of  which  ran  so  high  that  it 
appeared  hazardous  in  an  eminent  degree 
to  cross  with  both  the  children  at  the 
same  time;  one,  therefore,  he  placed 
carefully  upon  the  bank,  and  then  passed 
over  with  the  other  in  his  arms.  This 
effected,  he  laid  it  upon  the  ground,  and 
122 


returned  immediately  for  the  remaining 
child.  But  in  the  midst  of  the  river, 
accidentally  glancing  his  eye  back,  he 
beheld  a  wolf  hastily  snatch  up  the  child, 
and  run  with  it  into  an  adjoining  wood. 

Despairing  of  saving  it,  he  hastened  to 
the  other ;  but  while  he  was  yet  at  some 
distance,  a  huge  lion  approached  the 
child  he  had  left,  and,  seizing  it,  pres- 
ently disappeared.  To  follow  was  use- 
less, for  he  was  in  the  middle  of  the 
water.  Giving  himself  up,  therefore,  to 
his  desperate  situation,  he  began  to  lament 
and  to  pluck  away  his  hair  5  and  would 
have  cast  himself  into  the  stream  had  not 
Divine  Providence  preserved  him. 

Certain  shepherds,  however,  observing 
the  lion  carrying  ofF  the  child  in  his 
teeth,  pursued  him  with  dogs;  and  by 
the  peculiar  dispensation  of  Heaven  it 
was  dropped  unhurt.  As  for  the  other, 
some  ploughmen  witnessing  the  adven- 
ture, shouted  lustily  after  the  wolf,  and 
succeeded  in  liberating  the  poor  victim 
from  its  jaws.  Now,  it  happened  that 
both  the  shepherds  and  ploughmen  re- 
sided in  the  same  village,  and  brought  up 
123 


the  children  amongst  them.  But  Eusta- 
cius  knew  nothing  of  this,  and  his  afflic- 
tion was  so  poignant  that  he  was  unable 
to  control  his  complaints. 

"  Alas  !  "  he  would  say,  "  once  I  flour- 
ished like  a  luxuriant  tree,  but  now  I  am 
stripped  of  my  leaves.  Once  I  was 
encompassed  with  military  ensigns  and 
bands  of  armed  men ;  now  I  am  a  single 
being  in  the  universe :  I  have  lost  all  my 
children,  and  everything  that  I  possessed. 
Remember,  O  Lord,  that  thou  saidst  my 
trials  should  resemble  Job's  ;  behold,  they 
exceed  them.  For,  although  he  was 
destitute,  he  had  a  couch,  however  vile, 
to  repose  upon ;  I,  alas !  have  nothing. 
He  had  compassionating  friends,  while  I 
have  savage  beasts,  who  have  carried  off 
my  sons,  for  my  friends.  His  wife  re- 
mained, but  mine  is  forcibly  carried  off. 
Assuage  my  anguish,  O  Lord  !  and  place 
a  bridle  upon  my  lips,  lest  I  utter  foolish- 
ness, and  be  cast  away  from  before  Thy 
face."  With  such  words  he  gave  free 
course  to  the  fulness  of  his  heart ;  and 
after  much  travel  entered  a  village,  where 
he  abode.  In  this  place  he  continued 
124 


for  fifteen  years,  and  tended  the  lambs 
of  the  men  of  that  place  as  their  hired 
servant. 

To  return  to  the  two  boys.  They 
were  educated  in  the  same  neighbour- 
hood, but  had  no  knowledge  that  they 
were  brothers.  And  as  for  the  wife  of 
Eustacius,  she  preserved  her  purity,  and 
suffered  not  the  infamous  usage  which 
circumstances  led  her  to  apprehend. 
After  some  time   her  persecutor  died. 

In  the  mean  while  the  Roman  emperor 
was  beset  by  his  enemies,  and  recollect- 
ing how  valiantly  Placidus  had  behaved 
himself  in  similar  straits,  his  grief  at  the 
deplorable  mutation  of  fortune  was  re- 
newed. He  despatched  soldiers  through 
various  parts  of  the  world  in  pursuit  of 
them ;  and  promised  to  the  discoverer 
infinite  rewards  and  honours.  It  hap- 
pened that  some  of  the  emissaries,  being 
of  those  who  had  attended  upon  the  per- 
son of  Placidus,  came  into  the  country 
in  which  he  laboured,  and  one  of  them 
he  recognized  by  his  gait.  The  sight  of 
these  men  brought  back  to  the  exile's 
mind  the  situation  of  wealth  and  honour 
125 


which  he  had  once  possessed ;  and  being 
filled  with  fresh  trouble  at  the  recollec- 
tion— 

"  O  Lord  !  **  he  exclaimed,  "  even  as 
beyond  expectation  I  have  seen  these 
people  again,  so  let  me  be  restored  to  my 
beloved  wife.  Of  my  children  I  speak 
not;  for  I  know  too  well  that  they  are 
devoured  by  wild  beasts.** 

At  that  moment  a  voice  whispered, 

"  Be  faithful,  Eustacius,  and  thou  wilt 
shortly  recover  thy  lost  honours,  and 
again  look  upon  thy  wife  and  ofFspring.*' 

Now,  when  the  soldiers  met  Placidus, 
they  knew  not  who  he  was ;  and  accost- 
ing him,  they  asked  if  he  were  acquainted 
with  any  foreigner  named  Placidus,  with 
his  wife  and  two  sons.  He  replied  in 
the  negative,  but  requested  that  they 
would  tarry  in  his  house.  They  con- 
sented ;  and  he  conducted  them  home, 
and  waited  on  them.  And  here,  as  be- 
fore, at  the  recollection  of  his  former 
splendour,  his  tears  flowed.  Unable  to 
contain  himself,  he  went  out  of  doors, 
and  when  he  had  washed  his  face  he  re- 
entered, and  continued  his  service.  By 
126 


and  by  the  appearance  of  their  ancient 
master  underwent  a  more  exact  scrutiny  ; 
and  one  said  to  the  other,  "  Surely  this 
man  bears  great  resemblance  to  him  we 
inquire  after." 

"  Of  a  truth,"  answered  his  compan- 
ion, "  you  say  well.  Let  us  examine  if 
he  possess  a  scar  on  his  head,  which  he 
received  in  action." 

They  did  so,  and  finding  a  scar  which 
indicated  a  similar  wound,  they  leaped  up 
and  embraced  him,  and  inquired  after  his 
wife  and  sons.  He  related  his  adven- 
tures; and  the  neighbours,  coming  in, 
listened  with  wonder  to  the  account 
delivered  by  the  soldiers  of  his  military 
achievements  and  former  magnificence. 
Then,  obeying  the  command  of  the  em- 
peror, they  clothed  him  in  sumptuous 
apparel.  On  the  fifteenth  day  they 
reached  the  imperial  court ;  and  the  em- 
peror, apprized  of  his  coming,  went  out 
to  meet  him,  and  saluted  him  with  great 
gladness. 

Eustacius  related  all  that  had  befallen 
him  ;  he  was  then  invested  with  the  com- 
mand of  the  army,  and  restored  to  every 
127 


office  that  he  had  held  prior  to  his  de- 
parture. When  the  soldiers  were  num- 
bered, they  were  found  to  be  too  few  to 
meet  the  enemy.  He  therefore  drew 
together  from  all  parts  the  young  men 
of  the  country ;  and  it  fell  in  the  lot  of 
the  village  where  his  own  children  were 
educated,  to  send  two  to  the  army ;  and 
these  very  youths  were  selected  by  the 
inhabitants  as  the  best  and  bravest  of 
their  number.  They  appeared  before 
the  general;  and  their  elegant  manners, 
united  to  a  singular  propriety  of  con- 
duct, won  his  esteem.  He  placed  them 
in  the  van  of  his  troops,  and  began  his 
march  against  the  enemy.  After  the 
rout  of  the  foe,  he  caused  his  army  to 
halt  for  three  days  at  a  certain  place, 
where,  as  it  happened,  his  wife  was  liv- 
ing in  poverty.  Strange  to  say,  the  sons 
themselves,  in  the  general  distribution  of 
the  soldiers,  were  quartered  with  their 
own  mother,  but  all  the  while  ignorant 
with  whom  they  were  stationed. 

About   mid-day   the    lads,  sitting    to- 
gether, related  the  various  mutations  to 
which  their  infancy  had  been   subject; 
128 


and  the  mother,  who  was  at  no  great  dis- 
tance, became  an  attentive  auditor. 

"  Of  what  I  was,  while  a  child,"  said 
the  elder  of  the  brothers,  "  I  remember 
nothing,  except  that  my  beloved  father 
was  a  leader  of  a  company  of  soldiers; 
and  that  my  mother,  who  was  very  beau- 
tiful, had  two  sons,  of  whom  I  was  the 
elder.  During  the  night  we  accompa- 
nied our  parents  from  the  habitation  in 
which  we  had  constantly  resided,  and 
embarking  on  board  a  vessel  that  imme- 
diately put  to  sea,  sailed  I  know  not 
whither.  Our  mother  remained  in  the 
ship,  but  wherefore,  I  am  also  ignorant. 
In  the  mean  time  our  father  carried  my 
brother  and  myself  in  his  arms,  and  me 
he  left  upon  the  nearer  bank  of  a  river, 
until  he  had  conveyed  the  younger  of  us 
across.  But  no  sooner  had  he  accom- 
plished his  design,  and  was  returning  to 
my  assistance,  than  a  wolf  darted  from  a 
thicket  and  bore  my  brother  off  in  his 
mouth.  Before  he  could  hasten  back  to 
his  succour,  a  prodigious  lion  seized  upon 
me,  and  carried  me  into  a  neighbouring 
wood.  Certain  shepherds,  however,  de- 
129 


livered  and  educated  me  amongst  them, 
as  you  know.  What  has  become  of  my 
father  and  my  brother,  I  know  not." 

The  younger  brother  here  burst  into  a 
flood  of  tears,  and  exclaimed, 

"  Surely  I  have  found  my  brother ;  for 
they  who  brought  me  up  frequently  de- 
clared that  1  was  emancipated  from  the 
jaws  of  a  wolf." 

Then  did  they  exchange  embraces  and 
shed  tears.  The  mother,  who  listened, 
it  may  be  well  supposed,  with  intense 
interest  to  what  was  going  forward,  felt 
a  strong  conviction  that  they  were  her 
own  children.  She  was  silent,  however ; 
and  the  next  day  went  to  the  commander 
of  the  forces,  and  entreated  permission 
to  go  into  her  own  country. 

"I  am  a  Roman  woman,"  said  she, 
"  and  a  stranger  in  these  parts." 

As  she  uttered  these  words,  her  eye 
fixed  with  an  earnest  and  anxious  gaze 
upon  the  countenance  of  him  she  ad- 
dressed. It  was  her  husband,  whom  she 
now  for  the  first  time  recollected;  and 
she  threw  herself  at  his  feet  unable  to 
contain  her  joy. 

130 


"  My  lord,"  cried  the  enraptured  ma- 
tron, "  I  entreat  you  to  relate  some  cir- 
cumstances of  your  past  life ;  for,  unless 
I  greatly  mistake,  you  are  Placidus,  the 
master  of  the  soldiery,  since  known  by 
the  name  of  Eustacius,  whom  our  blessed 
Saviour  converted,  and  tried  by  such  and 
such  temptations :  I  am  his  wife,  taken 
from  him  at  sea  by  a  perfidious  wretch, 
but  who  accomplished  not  his  atrocious 
purposes.  1  had  two  sons,  called  Aga- 
petus  and  Theosbytus." 

When  Eustacius  heard  this,  he  looked 
at  her  earnestly,  and  saw  that  it  was  his 
wife.  They  embraced  and  wept ;  giving 
glory  to  God,  who  brings  joy  to  the  sor- 
rowful.    The  wife  then  observed, 

"  My  lord,  what  has  become  of  our 
children  ? " 

"  Alas  !  "  replied  he,  "  they  were  car- 
ried ofF  by  wild  beasts ;  "  and  he  repeated 
the  circumstance  of  their  loss. 

"  Give  thanks,"  said  his  wife,  "  give 
manifold  thanks  to  the  Lord ;  for  as  His 
Providence  hath  revealed  our  existence 
to  each  other,  so  will  He  give  us  back 
our  beloved  offspring." 
131 


"  Did  I  not  tell  you,"  returned  he, 
*'  that  wild  beasts  had  devoured  them  ?  " 

"True;  but  yesternight,  as  I  sat  in 
the  garden,  I  overheard  two  young  men 
relate  the  occurrences  of  their  childhood, 
and  I  believe  them  to  be  our  sons.  In- 
terrogate them,  and  they  will  tell  you." 

Messengers  were  immediately  des- 
patched for  this  purpose,  and  a  few 
questions  convinced  Eustacius  of  the 
full  completion  of  his  happiness.  They 
fell  upon  each  other's  necks  and  wept 
aloud.  It  was  a  joyful  occasion ;  and 
the  whole  army  rejoiced  at  their  being 
found,  and  at  the  victory  over  the  barba- 
rians. Previous  to  their  return  the  Em- 
peror Trajan  died,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Adrian,  more  wicked  even  than  his 
predecessor.  However,  he  received  the 
conqueror  and  his  family  with  great 
magnificence,  and  sumptuously  enter- 
tained them  at  his  own  table.  But  the 
day  following  the  emperor  would  have 
proceeded  to  the  temple  of  his  idols 
to  sacrifice,  in  consequence  of  the  late 
victory  ;  and  desired  his  guests  to  accom- 
pany him. 

132 


"  My  lord,"  said  Eustacius,  "  I  wor- 
ship the  God  of  the  Christians ;  and  Him 
only  do  I  serve,  and  propitiate  with  sac- 
rifice." 

The  emperor,  full  of  rage,  placed  him, 
with  his  whole  family,  in  the  arena,  and 
let  loose  a  ferocious  lion  upon  them. 
But  the  lion,  to  the  astonishment  of  all, 
held  down  his  head  before  them,  as  if  in 
reverence,  and  humbly  went  from  them. 
On  which  the  emperor  ordered  a  brazen 
bull  to  be  heated,  and  into  this  his  vic- 
tims were  cast  alive;  but  with  prayer 
and  supplication  they  commended  them- 
selves to  the  mercy  of  God,  and  three 
days  after,  being  taken  out  of  the  fur- 
nace in  the  presence  of  the  emperor,  so 
untouched  were  they  by  the  fire  that  not 
a  hair  of  their  heads  was  singed,  nor  had 
the  fiery  vapours  in  any  way  affected  them. 

The  Christians  buried  their  corpses  in 
the  most  honourable  manner,  and  over 
them  constructed  an  oratory.  They 
perished  in  the  first  year  of  Adrian,  a.  d. 
1 20,  in  the  calends  of  November ;  or,  as 
some  write,  the  I2th  of  the  calends  of 
October. 

133 


^^^^^ 

VL 


THE    EMPEROR    JOVINIAN 


When  Jovinian  was  emperor,  he  pos- 
sessed very  great  power;  and  as  he  lay 
in  bed  reflecting  upon  the  extent  of  his 
dominions,  his  heart  was  elated  to  an 
extraordinary  degree.  "  Is  there,"  he 
impiously  asked,  "  is  there  any  other  god 
than  me  ? "  Amid  such  thoughts  he 
fell  asleep. 

In  the  morning  he  reviewed  his  troops, 
and  said,  "  My  friends,  after  breakfast 
we  will  hunt."  Preparations  being  made 
accordingly,  he  set  out  with  a  large  reti- 
nue. During  the  chase,  the  emperor 
felt  such  extreme  oppression  from  the 
134 


heat,  that  he  believed  his  very  existence 
depended  upon  a  cold  bath.  As  he  anx- 
iously looked  around,  he  discovered  a 
sheet  of  vjrater  at  no  great  distance. 

*'  Remain  here,"  said  he  to  his  guard, 
"  until  I  have  refreshed  myself  in  yonder 
stream." 

Then  spurring  his  steed,  he  rode  ha- 
stily to  the  edge  of  the  water.  Alighting, 
he  divested  himself  of  his  apparel,  and 
experienced  the  greatest  pleasure  from 
its  invigorating  freshness  and  coolness. 
But  whilst  he  was  thus  employed,  a  per- 
son similar  to  him  in  every  respect  —  in 
countenance  and  gesture  —  arrayed  him- 
self unperceived  in  the  emperor's  dress, 
and  then  mounting  his  horse,  rode  ofF  to 
the  attendants.  The  resemblance  to  the 
sovereign  was  such,  that  no  doubt  was 
entertained  of  the  reality ;  and  when  the 
sport  was  over  command  was  issued  for 
their  return  to  the  palace. 

Jovinian,  however,  having  quitted  the 
water,  sought  in  every  possible  direction 
for  his  horse  and  clothes,  and  to  his  utter 
astonishment  could  find  neither.  Vexed 
beyond  measure  at  the  circumstance  (for 


he  was  completely  naked,  and  saw  no 
one  near  to  assist  him),  he  began  to 
reflect  upon  what  course  he  should 
pursue. 

"  Miserable  man  that  I  am,"  said  he, 
"  to  what  a  strait  am  I  reduced  !  There 
is,  I  remember,  a  knight  residing  close 
by,  whom  I  have  promoted  to  a  military 
post;  I  will  go  to  him,  and  command 
his  attendance  and  service.  I  will  then 
ride  on  to  the  palace  and  strictly  investi- 
gate the  cause  of  this  extraodinary  con- 
duct." 

Jovinian  proceeded,  naked  and 
ashamed,  to  the  castle  of  the  aforesaid 
and  beat  loudly  at  the  gate.  The  porter 
inquired  the  cause  of  the  knocking. 

"  Open  the  gate,"  said  the  enraged 
emperor,  "  and  you  will  see  whom  I 
am. 

The  gate  was  opened  ;  and  the  porter, 
struck  with  the  strange  appearance  he 
exhibited,  replied,  ''  In  the  name  of  all 
that  is  marvellous,  what  are  you  ?  " 

"  I  am,"  said  he,  "  Jovinian,  your 
emperor ;  go  to  your  lord,  and  command 
him  from  me  to  supply  the  wants  of  his 
136 


sovereign.  I  have  lost  both  horse  and 
clothes." 

"  Thou  liest,  infamous  ribald  ! " 
shouted,  the  porter;  "just  before  thy 
approach,  the  Emperor  Jovinian,  accom- 
panied by  the  officers  of  his  household, 
entered  the  palace.  My  lord  both  went 
and  returned  with  him;  and  but  even 
now  sat  with  him  at  meat.  But  because 
thou  hast  called  thyself  the  emperor,  my 
lord  shall  know  of  thy  presumption." 

The  porter  entered,  and  related  what 
had  passed.  Jovinian  was  introduced, 
but  the  knight  retained  not  the  slightest 
recollection  of  his  master,  although  the 
emperor  remembered  him. 

"Who  are  you?"  said  the  former, 
"  and  what  is  your  name  ?  " 

"  I  am  the  Emperor  Jovinian,"  rejoined 
he ;  "  canst  thou  have  forgotten  me  ? 
At  such  a  time  I  promoted  thee  to  a  mili- 
tary command." 

"  Why,  thou  most  audacious  scoun- 
drel," said  the  knight,  "  darest  thou  call 
thyself  the  emperor?  I  rode  with  him 
myself  to  the  palace,  from  whence  I  am 
this  moment  returned.  But  thy  impu- 
137 


dence  shall  not  go  without  its  reward. 
Flog  him,"  said  he,  turning  to  his  serv- 
ants, "  flog  him  soundly,  and  drive  him 
away." 

This  sentence  was  immediately  ex- 
ecuted, and  the  poor  emperor,  bursting 
into  a  convulsion  of  tears,  exclaimed, 
*'  Oh,  my  God,  is  it  possible  that  one 
whom  I  have  so  much  honoured  and 
exalted  should  do  this  ?  Not  content 
with  pretending  ignorance  of  my  person, 
he  orders  these  merciless  villains  to  abuse 
me!" 

He  next  thought  within  himself, 
"There  is  a  certain  duke,  one  of  my 
privy  councillors,  to  whom  I  will  make 
known  my  calamity.  At  least,  he  will 
enable  me  to  return  decently  to  the  pal- 
ace. 

To  him,  therefore,  Jovinian  proceeded, 
and  the  gate  was  opened  at  his  knock. 
But  the  porter,  beholding  a  naked  man, 
exclaimed  in  the  greatest  amaze, 

"  Friend,  who  are  you,  and  why  come 
you  here  in  such  a  guise  ?  " 

He  replied,  "  I  am  your  emperor ;  I 
have  accidentally  lost  my  clothes  and  my 

138 


horse,  and  I  have  come  for  succour  to 
your  lord.  I  beg  you,  therefore,  to  do 
me  this  errand  to  the  duke." 

The  porter,  more  and  more  astonished, 
entered  the  hall,  and  communicated  the 
strange  intelligence  which  he  had  re- 
ceived. 

"  Bring  him  in,"  said  the  duke.  He 
was  brought  in,  but  neither  did  he  recog- 
nize the  person  of  the  emperor. 

"  What  art  thou  ? "  he  asked. 

"  I  am  the  emperor,"  replied  Jovinian, 
*'and  I  have  promoted  thee  to  riches 
and  honour,  since  I  made  thee  a  duke 
and  one  of  my  councillors." 

"Poor  mad  wretch,"  said  the  duke, 
"  a  short  time  since  I  returned  from  the 
palace,  where  I  left  the  very  emperor 
thou  assumest  to  be.  But  since  thou 
hast  claimed  such  rank,  thou  shalt  not 
escape  unpunished.  Carry  him  to  prison, 
and  feed  him  with  bread  and  water." 

The  command  was  no  sooner  de- 
livered than  obeyed;  and  the  following 
day  his  naked  body  was  submitted  to  the 
lash,  and  he  was  again  cast  into  the 
dungeon. 

139 


Thus  afflicted,  he  gave  himself  up  to 
the  wretchednesG  of  his  untoward  con- 
dition. In  the  agony  of  his  heart,  he 
said, 

"  What  shall  I  do  ?  Oh,  what  will 
be  my  destiny  ?  I  am  loaded  with  the 
coarsest  contumely,  and  exposed  to  the 
malicious  observation  of  my  people.  It 
were  better  to  hasten  immediately  to  my 
palace,  and  there  discover  myself — my 
servants  will  know  me ;  and  even  if  they 
do  not,  my  wife  will  know  me  !  " 

Escaping,  therefore,  from  his  confine- 
ment, he  approached  the  palace  and  beat 
upon  the  gate. 

"  Who  art  thou  ?  **  said  the  porter. 

"  It  is  strange,"  replied  the  aggrieved 
emperor,  "  it  is  strange  that  thou 
shouldest  not  know  me ;  thou,  who  hast 
served  me  so  long  !  " 

"  Served  thee  ! "  returned  the  porter 
indignantly,  "  thou  liest  abominably. 
I  have  served  none  but  the  emperor." 

"  Why,"  said  the  other, "  thou  knowest 

that  I  am  he.     Yet,  though  you  disregard 

my   words,   go,   I   implore   you,  to  the 

empress ;  communicate  what  I  will  tell 

140 


thee,  and  by  these  signs  bid  her  send  the 
imperial  robes,  of  which  some  rogue  has 
deprived  me.  The  signs  I  tell  thee  of 
are  known  to  none  but  to  ourselves." 

"  In  verity,"  said  the  porter,  "  thou 
art  mad :  at  this  very  moment  my  lord 
sits  at  table  with  the  empress  herself. 
Nevertheless,  out  of  regard  for  thy  sin- 
gular merits,  I  will  intimate  thy  dec- 
laration within ;  and  rest  assured,  thou 
wilt  presently  find  thyself  most  royally 
beaten." 

The  porter  went  accordingly,  and 
related  what  he  had  heard.  But  the 
empress  became  very  sorrowful,  and  said, 

"  Oh,  my  lord,  what  am  I  to  think  ? 
The  most  hidden  passages  of  our  lives 
are  revealed  by  an  obscene  fellow  at  the 
gate,  and  repeated  to  me  by  the  porter, 
on  the  strength  of  which  he  declares 
himself  the  emperor  and  my  espoused 
lord ! " 

When  the  fictitious  monarch  was  ap- 
prised of  this,  he  commanded  him  to 
be  brought  in.  He  had  no  sooner  entered 
than  a  large  dog,  which  couched  upon 
the  hearth,  and  had  been  much  cherished 
141 


by  him,  flew  at  his  throat,  and,  but  for 
timely  prevention,  would  have  killed  him. 
A  falcon,  also,  seated  upon  her  perch,  no 
sooner  beheld  him,  than  she  broke  her 
jesses  and  flew  out  of  the  hall.  Then 
the  pretended  emperor,  addressing  those 
who  stood  about  him,  said,  "  My  friends, 
hear  what  I  will  ask  of  yon  ribald. 
Who  are  you  ?  and  what  do  you  want  ?  " 

"  These  questions,"  said  the  suffering 
man,  "  are  very  strange.  You  know  I 
am  the  emperor  and  master  of  this 
place." 

The  other,  turning  to  the  nobles  who 
sat  or  stood  at  the  table,  continued, 
"  Tell  me,  on  your  allegiance,  which  of 
us  two  is  your  lord  and  master  ? " 

"  Your  majesty  asks  us  an  easy  thing," 
replied  they,  "and  need  not  to  remind 
us  of  our  allegiance.  That  obscene 
wretch  we  have  never  before  seen.  You 
alone  are  he,  whom  we  have  known 
from  childhood;  and  we  entreat  that 
this  fellow  may  be  severely  punished,  as 
a  warning  to  others  how  they  give  scope 
to  their  mad  presumption." 

Then  turning  to  the  empress,  the 
142 


usurper  said,  "  Tell  me,  my  lady,  on  the 
faith  you  have  sworn,  do  you  know  this 
man  who  calls  himself  thy  lord  and 
emperor  ? " 

She  answered,  "  My  lord,  how  can  you 
ask  such  a  question  ?  Have  I  not  known 
thee  more  than  thirty  years,  and  borne 
thee  many  children  ?  Yet,  at  one  thing 
I  do  admire.  How  can  this  fellow  have 
acquired  so  intimate  a  knowledge  of 
what  has  passed  between  us  ?  " 

The  pretended  emperor  made  no  reply, 
but  addressing  the  real  one,  said, "  Friend, 
how  darest  thou  to  call  thyself  emperor  ? 
We  sentence  thee,  for  this  unexampled 
impudence,  to  be  drawn,  without  loss  of 
time,  at  the  tail  of  a  horse.  And  if  thou 
utterest  the  same  words  again,  thou  shalt 
be  doomed  to  an  ignominious  death." 

He  then  commanded  his  guards  to  see 
the  sentence  put  in  force,  but  to  preserve 
his  life.  The  unfortunate  emperor  was 
now  almost  distracted ;  and  urged  by  his 
despair,  wished  vehemently  for  death. 

"  Why  was  I  born  ?  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  My  friends  shun  me ;  and  my  wife 
and  children  will  not  acknowledge  me. 

143 


But  there  is  my  confessor,  still.  To 
him  will  I  go ;  perhaps  he  will  recollect 
me,  because  he  has  often  received  my 
confessions." 

He  went  accordingly,  and  knocked  at 
the  window  of  his  cell. 

"  Who  is  there  ?  "  said  the  confessor. 

"The  emperor,  Jovinian,"  was  the 
reply;  "open  the  window,  and  I  will 
speak  to  thee."  The  window  was 
opened ;  but  no  sooner  had  he  looked 
out  than  he  closed  it  again  in  great  haste. 

"  Depart  from  me,"  said  he, "  accursed 
thing :  thou  art  not  the  emperor,  but  the 
devil  incarnate." 

This  completed  the  miseries  of  the  per- 
secuted man ;  and  he  tore  his  hair,  and 
plucked  up  his  beard  by  the  roots. 

"  Woe  is  me  !  "  he  cried,  "  for  what 
strange  doom  am  I  reserved  ? " 

At  this  crisis,  the  impious  words 
which,  in  the  arrogance  of  his  heart,  he 
had  uttered,  crossed  his  recollection. 
Immediately  he  beat  again  at  the  window 
of  the  confessor's  cell,  and  exclaimed, 
"  For  the  love  of  Him  who  was  sus- 
pended from  the  cross,  hear  my  con- 
144 


fession  with  the  window  closed."  The 
recluse  said,  "  I  will  do  this  with  pleas- 
ure ; "  and  then  Jovinian  acquainted  him 
with  every  particular  of  his  past  life ;  and 
principally  how  he  had  lifted  himself  up 
against  his  Maker,  saying  that  he  be- 
lieved there  was  no  other  god  but  him- 
self. 

The  confession  made,  and  absolution 
given,  the  recluse  opened  the  window, 
and  directly  knew  him. 

"  Blessed  be  the  most  high  God,"  said 
he,  "  now  do  I  know  thee.  I  have  here 
a  few  garments :  clothe  thyself,  and  go 
to  the  palace.  I  trust  that  they  also  will 
recognize  thee." 

The  emperor  did  as  the  confessor  di- 
rected. The  porter  opened  the  gate, 
and  made  a  low  obeisance  to  him. 
"  Dost  thou  know  me  ? "  said  he. 

"  Very  well,  my  lord ! "  replied  the 
menial;  "but  I  marvel  that  I  did  not 
observe  you  go  out." 

Entering  the  hall  of  his  mansion,  Jo- 
vinian was  received  by  all  with  a  pro- 
found reverence.  The  strange  emperor 
was  at  that  time  in  another  apartment 
145 


with  the  queen ;  and  a  certain  knight 
came  out  of  the  chamber,  looked  nar- 
rowly at  Jovinian,  and  returning  to  the 
supposed  emperor,  said, 

"  My  lord,  there  is  one  in  the  hall  to 
whom  everybody  bends;  he  so  much 
resembles  you,  that  we  know  not  which 
is  the  emperor." 

Hearing  this,  the  usurper  said  to  the 
empress,  "  Go  and  see  if  you  know  him." 

She  went,  and  returned  greatly  sur- 
prised at  what  she  saw. 

"  Oh,  my  lord,"  said  she,  "  I  declare 
to  you  that  I  know  not  whom  to  trust." 

"  Then,"  returned  he,  "  I  will  go  and 
determine  you." 

When  he  had  entered  the  hall,  he  took 
Jovinian  by  the  hand  and  placed  him  near 
him.  Addressing  the  assembly,  he  said, 
"  By  the  oaths  you  have  taken,  declare 
which  of  us  is  your  emperor." 

The  empress  answered,  "  It  is  incum- 
bent on  me  to  speak  first;  but  Heaven 
is  my  witness  that  I  am  unable  to  deter- 
mine which  is  he." 

And  so  said  all.     Then  the  feigned 
emperor  spoke  thus, 
146 


"  My  friends,  hearken  !  That  man  is 
your  king  and  your  lord.  He  exalted 
himself  to  the  disparagement  of  his 
Maker;  and  God,  therefore,  scourged 
and  hid  him  from  your  knowledge.  I 
am  the  angel  that  watches  over  his  soul, 
and  I  have  guarded  his  kingdom  while  he 
was  undergoing  his  penance.  But  his 
repentance  removes  the  rod ;  he  has  now 
made  ample  satisfaction,  and  again  let 
your  obedience  wait  upon  him.  Com- 
mend yourselves  to  the  protection  of 
Heaven." 

So  saying,  he  disappeared.  The  em- 
peror gave  thanks  to  God,  and  lived 
happily,  and  finished  his  days  in  peace. 


147 


VII. 


THE    king's    four   SONS 


There  was  a  wise  and  rich  king  who 
possessed  a  beloved,  but  not  a  loving 
wife.  She  had  three  illegitimate  sons, 
who  proved  ungrateful  and  rebellious  to 
their  reputed  parent. 

In  due  time  she  brought  forth  another 
son,  whose  legitimacy  was  undisputed; 
and  after  arriving  at  a  good  old  age,  he 
died,  and  was  buried  in  the  royal  sepul- 
chre of  his  fathers.  But  the  death  of 
148 


the  old  king  caused  great  strife  amongst 
his  surviving  sons,  about  the  right  of 
succession.  All  of  them  advanced  a 
claim,  and  none  would  relinquish  it  to 
the  other ;  the  three  first  presuming  upon 
their  priority  in  birth,  and  the  last  upon 
his  legitimacy. 

In  this  strait,  they  agreed  to  refer  the 
absolute  decision  of  their  cause  to  a  cer- 
tain honourable  knight  of  the  late  king. 
When  this  person,  therefore,  heard  their 
difference,  he  said,  "  Follow  my  advice, 
and  it  will  greatly  benefit  you.  Draw 
from  its  sepulchre  the  body  of  the  de- 
ceased monarch ;  prepare,  each  of  you,  a 
bow  and  single  shaft,  and  whosoever 
transfixes  the  heart  of  his  father  shall 
obtain  the  kingdom." 

The  counsel  was  approved,  the  body 
was  taken  from  its  repository  and  bound 
to  a  tree.  The  arrow  of  the  first  son 
wounded  the  king's  right  hand  —  on 
which,  as  if  the  contest  were  deter- 
mined, they  proclaimed  him  heir  to  the 
throne. 

But  the  second  arrow  went  nearer, 
and  entered  the  mouth ;  so  that  he,  too, 
149 


considered  himself  the  undoubted  lord 
of  the  kingdom. 

However,  the  third  perforated  the 
heart  itself,  and  consequently  imagined 
that  his  claim  was  fully  decided,  and  his 
succession  sure. 

It  now  came  to  the  turn  of  the  fourth 
and  last  son  to  shoot ;  but  he  broke  forth 
into  a  lamentable  cry,  and  with  eyes 
swimming  in  tears,  said, 

"  Oh !  my  poor  father ;  have  I  then 
lived  to  see  you  the  victim  of  an  impious 
contest  —  thine  own  offspring  lacerate 
thy  unconscious  clay  ?  —  Far,  oh  !  far 
be  it  from  me  to  strike  thy  venerated 
form,  whether  living  or  dead." 

No  sooner  had  he  uttered  these  words, 
than  the  nobles  of  the  realm,  together 
with  the  whole  people,  unanimously 
elected  him  to  the  throne ;  and  depriving 
the  three  barbarous  wretches  of  their 
rank  and  wealth,  expelled  them  for  ever 
from  the  kingdom. 


150 


VIII. 

JUSTICE,    TRUTH,    MERCY,    AND    PEACE 

A  CERTAIN  great  king  had  a  handsome 
son,  who  proved  himself,  on  all  occa- 
sions, wise,  bold,  and  courteous.  The 
same  king  had  four  daughters  also,  whose 
names  were  Justice,  Truth,  Mercy,  and 
Peace. 

Now,  the  king,  being  very  desirous  of 
procuring  for  his  son  a  suitable  partner, 
despatched  a  messenger  in  search  of  a 
beautiful  virgin,  to  whom  he  should  be 
united.  At  last,  the  daughter  of  the 
King  of  Jerusalem  was  selected,  and 
married  to  the  young  prince,  who  was 
much  struck  with  the  beauty  of  his  bride. 
At  this  time  there  was  in  the  court  a 
servant  whom  the  king's  son  principally 

151 


trusted,  and  to  whom  he  had  confided 
the  care  of  one  of  his  provinces. 

This  man,  in  return  for  the  benefits 
accumulated  upon  him,  seduced  the  lady, 
and  wasted  the  country  over  which  he 
was  placed.  When  the  husband,  there- 
fore, knew  of  his  wife's  infidelity,  he 
was  overwhelmed  with  sorrow,  and  re- 
pudiated her  with  the  loss  of  every  hon- 
our. Thus  circumstanced,  she  fell  into 
extreme  poverty ;  and,  reduced  to  despair 
by  the  wretchedness  of  her  condition, 
walked  from  place  to  place  begging  her 
bread,  and  wishing  for  the  death  that 
came  not  to  her  relief. 

But  at  length  the  husband,  compas- 
sionating her  distress,  sent  messengers  to 
recall  her  to  his  court. 

"  Come,  lady,"  they  said,  "  come  in 
perfect  safety.  Thy  lord  wishes  thy 
return ;  fear  nothing." 

Yet  she  refused,  and  exclaimed,  "  Tell 
my  lord  that  I  would  willingly  come  to 
him,  but  I  am  unable  to  do  so.  If  he 
asks  why,  say,  in  compliance  with  an 
imperious  law.  If  a  man  marry,  and 
his  wife  prove  an  adultress,  he  shall  give 
152 


her  a  writing  of  divorcement ;  but  from 
that  hour,  she  can  be  no  longer  his  wife. 
To  me  such  a  writing  has  been  given  — 
for,  alas !  I  am  an  adultress ;  therefore, 
it  is  impossible  for  me  to  return  to  my 
lord." 

"  But,"  replied  the  messengers,  "  our 
lord  is  greater  than  the  law  which  he 
made  himself:  and  since  he  is  disposed 
to  show  mercy  towards  you,  we  repeat 
that  you  may  properly  comply  with  his 
wishes,  secure  from  further  punishment 
or  reproach." 

"  How  shall  I  know  that  ? "  said  the 
lady;  "if  my  beloved  would  assure  me 
of  it ;  if  he  would  deign  to  come  and  kiss 
me  with  the  kiss  of  his  lip,  then  should 
I  feel  certain  of  favour." 

When  the  messengers  communicated 
to  the  prince  what  had  passed  between 
them  and  his  afflicted  wife,  he  called  to- 
gether the  noblemen  of  his  kingdom,  and 
deliberated  upon  the  measures  it  became 
him  to  adopt.  After  mature  reflection, 
they  determined  that  some  man  of  expe- 
rience and  judgment  should  be  sent  to 
persuade  her  to  return.     But  they  who 


answered  this  description  refused  to  un- 
dertake the  office;  and  the  husband,  in 
his  extremity,  despatched  once  more  a 
messenger,  whom  he  commissioned  to 
speak  thus : 

''  What  can  I  do  for  you  ?  There  is 
not  a  man  in  my  dominions  who  will 
execute  my  wishes !  "  These  words  in- 
creased the  anguish  of  the  unfortunate 
lady,  and  she  wept  bitterly.  Her  condi- 
tion was  related  to  the  prince,  and  he 
earnestly  besought  his  father  to  give  him 
permission  to  bring  back  his  wife,  and 
to  assuage  her  sorrows. 

The  king  acquiesced  — "  Go,"  said 
he,  "  go  now  in  thy  might,  and  reinstate 
her  in  the  seat  from  which  she  has 
fallen." 

The  messengers  were  then  ordered  to 
return  and  apprize  her  of  the  purposed 
visit.  But  the  prince's  elder  sister,  that 
is  to  say.  Justice,  understanding  what 
was  meditated,  hastened  to  her  father, 
and  said, 

"My  Lord,  you  are  just.  You  de- 
cided rightly  concerning  that  harlot. 
You  properly  sanctioned  the  writing  of 

?54 


divorcement,  whereby  she  could  no 
longer  be  my  brother's  wife;  therefore, 
to  the  law  let  her  appeal.  And  if,  in 
violation  of  justice,  you  act  thus,  be  as- 
sured that  I  will  no  longer  be  accounted 
your  daughter." 

The  second  sister,  who  was  called 
Truth,  then  said,  "My  father,  she  has 
spoken  truly.  You  have  adjudged  this 
woman  an  adultress :  if  you  permit 
her  to  return,  you  destroy  the  very  es- 
sence of  truth,  and  therefore  I,  too, 
will  no  more  fulfil  the  offices  of  a 
daughter." 

But  the  third  sister,  called  Mercy, 
hearing  what  had  been  said  by  the  other 
two,  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  my  Lord,  I  also 
am  thy  daughter :  forgive  the  offence  of 
this  repentant  woman.  If  thou  wilt 
not,  thou  abandonest  Mercy,  and  she 
will  never  again  acknowledge  thee  her 
father." 

The  fourth  sister,  whose  name  was 
Peace,  terrified  at  the  discord  between 
her  parent  and  sisters,  desired  to  leave 
the  country,  and  fled. 

Justice    and    Truth,   however,   relin- 

155 


quished  not  their  purpose ;  and,  putting 
into  their  father's  hands  a  naked  sword, 
said, 

"My  Lord,  we  present  to  you  the 
sword  of  Justice.  Take  it,  and  strike 
the  harlot  who  has  wronged  our  brother." 

But  Mercy,  rushing  forward,  snatched 
the  weapon  from  their  grasp.  "  Enough, 
enough,"  cried  she;  "long  have  you 
reigned,  and  your  inclinations  have  been 
your  only  law.  Now  forbear ;  it  is  fit  that 
my  wishes  should  sometimes  be  listened 
to.  Remember  that  I,  too,  am  the 
daughter  of  the  king." 

To  this  Justice  made  answer,  "  Thou 
hast  said  well :  we  have  reigned  long : 
and  long  will  we  preserve  our  authority. 
But  since  there  is  this  discord,  call  our 
brother,  who  is  wise  in  all  things;  and 
let  him  judge  between  us." 

The  proposal  was  assented  to.  They 
showed  him  the  grounds  of  their  alterca- 
tion, and  explained  how  Justice  and  Truth 
pertinaciously  demanded  the  infliction  of 
the  law,  while  Mercy  sought  a  free  for- 
giveness. 

"  My  beloved  sisters,"  said  the  prince, 

156 


"  I  am  little  satisfied  with  the  flight  of 
my  sister  Peace,  whom  your  unbeseem- 
ing strife  has  banished.  This  ought  not 
to  be,  and  shall  not.  And  as  for  my 
adulterous  wife,  I  am  prepared  to  undergo 
her  punishment  myself." 

"  If  this  be  your  determination,"  ob- 
served Justice,  "  we  cannot  oppose  you, 
my  brother." 

Then  turning  towards  Mercy,  he  said, 
''  Use  your  endeavour  to  restore  my 
wife.  But  should  I  receive  her,  and  she 
again  falls,  do  you  design  to  renew  your 
intercession  ? " 

"Not,"  said  the  other,  "unless  she 
be  truly  penitent." 

The  prince  then  conducted  back  his 
sister  Peace,  and  caused  each  of  the 
others  to  embrace  her,  in  turn.  Concord 
being  thus  reestablished,  he  hastened  to 
his  erring  wife.  She  was  received  with 
every  honour,  and  ended  her  days  in 
peace. 


157 


IX. 


THE  KING  S  DAUGHTER  WHO  WAS  SWIFT- 
FOOTED 


A  CERTAIN  king  had  an  only  daughter, 
remarkable  for  the  beauty  and  dignity  of 
her  person.  She  was  called  Rosamond ; 
and,  at  the  early  age  of  ten  years,  she 
proved  so  swift  a  runner,  that  she  invari- 
ably attained  the  goal  before  her  com- 
petitor. The  king  caused  it  to  be 
proclaimed  that  whosoever  should  surpass 
his  daughter  in  speed  should  marry  her, 
and  succeed  to  the  throne :  but  in  the 
event  of  a  failure  he  should  lose  his  head. 
And  even  with  the  heavy  penalty  before 
them,  numbers  permitted  themselves  to 

158 


be  buoyed  up  by  the  hope  of  success  to 
attempt,  and  to  perish  in  the  attempt. 

But  it  happened  that  a  poor  man, 
called  Abibas,  inhabited  that  country, 
who  thus  communed  with  himself: 

"I  am  very  poor,  and  of  a  base 
extraction ;  if  I  may  overcome  this  lady 
and  marry  her,  not  only  shall  I  be 
promoted  myself,  but  all  who  are  of  my 
blood." 

But  wiser  than  the  rest,  he  took  the 
three  following  precautions.  First,  he 
framed  a  curious  garland  of  roses,  of 
which  he  had  ascertained  that  the  lady 
was  devotedly  fond.  Then,  he  procured 
a  zone  of  the  finest  silk,  from  a  convic- 
tion that  most  damsels  were  partial  to 
this  sort  of  clothing.  And,  lastly,  he 
bought  a  silken  bag,  in  which  he  depos- 
ited a  golden  ball  bearing  the  following 
inscription  :  "  Whosoever  plays  with  me 
shall  never  satiate  of  play." 

These  three  things  he  placed  in  his 
bosom,  and  knocked  at  the  palace  gate. 
The  porter  inquired  his  business ;  and  he 
stated  his  wish  in  the  usual  form. 

It  happened  that  the  princess  herself 
159 


stood  at  a  window  close  by,  and  heard 
Abibas  express  his  intention  to  run  with 
her.  Observing  that  he  was  poor,  and 
his  attire  threadbare  and  rent,  she  de- 
spised him  from  her  very  heart,  and  said, 
"  Lo !  what  poor  wretch  is  this  with 
whom  I  have  to  contend  ?  " 

However,  she  prepared  to  run ;  and 
everything  being  in  readiness,  they  com- 
menced the  race.  Abibas  would  have 
been  left  at  a  considerable  distance ;  but 
taking  the  garland  of  roses  from  its 
repository,  he  skilfully  threw  it  down 
before  her,  on  which  the  maiden  stooped, 
picked  it  up,  and  placed  it  on  her  head. 
Delighted  with  the  odour  and  beauty  of 
the  flowers,  she  paused  to  examine  it; 
and  Abibas  took  advantage  of  her  forget- 
fulness  and  advanced  rapidly  toward  the 
goal.  This  awoke  her  to  a  recollection 
of  what  was  going  forward,  and  crying 
aloud, 

"  Never  shall  the  daughter  of  a  prince 
be  united  to  this  miserable  clown,"  she 
threw  the  garland  from  her  into  a  deep 
well,  and  rushed  onward  like  a  whirlwind. 
In  a  few  moments  she  overtook  the 
1 60 


youth,  and  extending  her  hand,  struck 
him  upon  the  shoulder,  exclaiming, 
"  Stop,  foolish  thing ;  hopest  thou  to 
marry  a  princess  ?  " 

Just  as  she  was  on  the  point  of  repass- 
ing him,  he  drew  forth  the  silken  girdle, 
and  cast  it  at  her  feet.  The  temptation 
again  proved  too  strong  for  her  resolution, 
and  she  stooped  to  gather  it.  Overjoyed 
at  the  beauty  of  its  texture,  she  paused 
to  bind  it  round  her  waist;  and  whilst 
she  did  this,  Abibas  had  recovered  more 
ground  than  he  had  lost.  As  soon  as 
the  fair  racer  perceived  the  consequences 
of  her  folly,  she  burst  into  a  flood  of 
tears,  and  rending  the  zone  asunder, 
hurried  on.  Having  again  overtaken  her 
adversary,  she  seized  him  by  the  arm, 
striking  him  smartly  at  the  same  time : 
*'  Fool,  thou  shalt  not  marry  me ;  "  and 
immediately  she  ran  faster  than  before. 

Abibas,  when  he  saw  this,  waited 
until  she  was  near  the  goal,  and  then 
threw  at  her  feet  the  bag  with  the  golden 
ball.  It  was  impossible  to  forbear  pick- 
ing it  up  5  and  equally  impossible  not  to 
open  it  and  peep  at  its  contents.  She 
i6i 


did  so;  but  reading  the  inscription, 
"  Who  plays  with  me  shall  never  satiate 
of  playing,"  she  played  so  much  and  so 
long,  that  Abibas  came  first  to  the  goal 
and  married  her. 


162 


X. 

THE    TALE    OF    TWO    KNIGHTS 

The  Emperor  Maximian  was  re- 
nowned for  the  wisdom  of  his  govern- 
ment. In  his  reign  there  lived  two 
knights,  the  one  wise  and  the  'other  fool- 
ish, but  who  had  a  mutual  regard  for 
each  other. 

"Let  us  make  an  agreement,"  said 
the  wise  knight,  "  which  will  be  advan- 
tageous to  both." 

The  other  assented,  and,  by  the  direc- 
tion of  his  friend,  proceeded  to  draw 
blood  from  his  right  arm.  "  I,"  said  the 
latter, "  will  drink  of  thy  blood,  and  thou 
of  mine ;  so  that  neither  in  prosperity  nor 
in  adversity  shall  our  covenant  be  broken, 
and  whatsoever  the  one  gains,  shall  be 
divided  by  the  other." 
163 


The  foolish  knight  agreed ;  and  they 
ratified  the  treaty  by  a  draught  of  each 
other's  blood.  After  this  they  both 
dwelt  in  the  same  mansion.  Now,  the 
lord  of  the  country  had  two  cities,  one 
of  which  was  built  on  the  summit  of  a 
lofty  mountain.  Since  all  who  went  to 
it  would  possess  great  wealth,  and  remain 
there  for  life,  the  path  to  this  city  was 
narrow  and  stony,  and  about  midway 
three  knights  with  a  large  army  were 
stationed. 

The  custom  was  that  whosoever 
passed  should  do  battle,  or  lose  his  life, 
with  everything  that  he  possessed.  In 
that  city  the  emperor  appointed  a  sen- 
eschal, who  received  without  exception 
all  who  entered,  and  ministered  to  them 
according  to  their  condition.  But  the 
other  city  was  built  in  a  valley  under  the 
mountain,  the  way  to  which  was  per- 
fectly level  and  pleasant. 

Three  soldiers  dwelt  there,  who  cheer- 
fully received  whosoever  came,  and 
served  them  according  to  their  pleasure. 
In  this  city  also  a  seneschal  was  placed, 
but  he  ordered  all  who  approached  to  be 
164 


thrown  into  prison,  and  on  the  coming 
of  the  judge  to  be  condemned. 

The  wise  knight  said  to  his  compan- 
ion, "  My  friend,  let  us  go  through  the 
world  as  other  knights  are  wont  to  do, 
and  seek  our  fortune." 

His  friend  acquiesced ;  they  set  out 
upon  their  travels,  and  presently  came  to 
a  place  where  two  roads  met. 

"See,"  said  the  wise  knight,  "here 
are  two  roads.  The  one  leads  to  the 
noblest  city  in  the  world,  and  if  we  go 
thither,  we  shall  obtain  whatsoever  our 
hearts  desire.  But  the  other  path  con- 
ducts to  a  city  which  is  built  in  a  valley ; 
if  we  venture  there,  we  shall  be  thrown 
into  prison,  and  afterwards  crucified.  I 
advise,  therefore,  that  we  avoid  this  road, 
and  pursue  the  other." 

"  My  friend,"  replied  the  foolish 
knight,  *'  I  heard  long  ago  of  these  two 
cities;  but  the  way  to  that  upon  the 
mountain  is  very  narrow  and  dangerous, 
because  of  the  soldiers  who  attack  those 
that  enter ;  nay,  they  frequently  rob  and 
murder  them.  But  the  other  way  is 
open  and  broad ;  and  the  soldiers  who 

165 


are  stationed  there  receive  passengers 
with  hospitality,  and  supply  them  with 
all  things  necessary.  This  is  sufficiently 
manifest ;  I  see  it,  and  had  rather  believe 
my  own  eyes  than  you." 

"  It  is  true,"  returned  his  companion, 
"  one  way  is  difficult  to  walk  along,  but 
the  other  is  infinitely  worse  at  the  end : 
ignominy  and  crucifixion  will  certainly 
be  our  doom.  But  fear  you  to  walk  the 
strait  road,  on  account  of  a  battle,  or 
because  of  robbers  ?  you,  who  are  a  sol- 
dier, and  therefore  in  duty  bound  to  fight 
valiantly  !  However,  if  you  will  go  with 
me  the  way  I  desire,  I  promise  to  precede 
you  in  the  attack ;  and  be  assured  with  your 
aid  we  shall  overcome  every  obstacle." 

*'  I  protest  to  you,"  said  the  other,  "  I 
will  not  go  your  way,  but  will  take  mine 
own." 

"Well,"  replied  the  wise  knight, 
"  since  I  have  pledged  you  my  word, 
and  drank  your  blood  in  token  of  fidelity, 
I  will  proceed  with  you,  though  against 
my  better  judgment." 

So  they  both  went  the  same  path. 

The  progress  was  extremely  pleasant 
i66 


till  they  reached  the  station  of  the  three 
soldiers,  who  honourably  and  magnifi- 
cently entertained  them.  And  here  the 
foolish  knight  said  to  the  wise  one, 
"Friend,  did  I  not  tell  thee  how  com- 
fortable this  way  would  be  found ;  in  all 
which  the  other  is  deficient  ?  " 

"  If  the  end  be  well,"  replied  he,  "  all 
is  well;  but  I  do  not  hope  it."  With 
the  three  soldiers  they  tarried  some  time ; 
insomuch  that  the  seneschal  of  the  city, 
hearing  that  two  knights,  contrary  to 
royal  prohibition,  were  approaching,  sent 
out  troops  to  apprehend  them.  The 
foolish  knight  he  commanded  to  be 
bound  hand  and  foot,  and  thrown  into  a 
pit,  but  the  other  he  imprisoned.  Now, 
when  the  judge  arrived,  the  malefactors 
were  all  brought  before  him,  and  among 
the  rest  our  two  knights  —  the  wiser  of 
whom  thus  spoke : 

"  My  Lord,  I  complain  of  my  com- 
rade, who  is  the  occasion  of  my  death. 
I  declared  to  him  the  law  of  this  city, 
and  the  danger  to  which  we  were  ex- 
posed, but  he  would  not  listen  to  my 
words,  nor  abide  by  my  counsels.  *I 
167 


will  trust  my  eyes,*  said  he,  *  rather  than 
you/  Now,  because  I  had  taken  an 
oath  never  to  forsake  him  in  prosperity 
or  in  adversity,  I  accompanied  him 
hither.  But  ought  I  therefore  to  die  ? 
Pronounce  a  just  judgment." 

Then  the  foolish  knight  addressed  the 
judge :  "  He  is  himself  the  cause  of  my 
death.  For  every  one  knows  that  he  is 
reckoned  wise,  and  I  am  naturally  a  fool. 
Ought  he  then  so  lightly  to  have  surren- 
dered his  wisdom  to  my  folly  ?  And 
had  he  not  done  so,  I  should  have  re- 
turned to  go  the  way  which  he  went, 
even  for  the  solemn  oath  which  I  had 
sworn.  And  therefore,  since  he  is  wise, 
and  I  am  foolish,  he  is  the  occasion  of 
my  death." 

The  judge,  hearing  this,  spoke  to  both, 
but  to  the  wise  knight  first :  "  Thou  who 
art  wise,  since  thou  didst  listen  so  heed- 
lessly to  his  folly  and  followedst  him, 
and  thou,  foolish  man,  since  thou  didst 
not  credit  his  word,  but  acted  out  thine 
own  folly,  ye  shall  both  be  suspended 
on  the  cross  this  very  day."  Thus  it 
was  dpne. 

i68 


XL 

THE    MAN    WHO    LOST    HIS    EYES    IN    VAIN 

A  CERTAIN  king  of  Rome  decreed  that 
every  blind  man  should  annually  receive 
a  hundred  shillings.  It  happened  that 
twenty-three  associates  came  into  the 
city  and  entered  a  tavern  to  drink.  They 
remained  there  seven  days,  both  eating 
and  drinking;  but  when  they  would 
reckon  with  the  tavern-keeper,  they  had 
not  sufficient  money  to  defray  the  ex- 
pense of  what  they  had  consumed. 
"  Friends,"  quoth  mine  host,  "  here  be 
wanting  a  hundred  shillings.  I  tell  you, 
of  a  certainty,  ye  go  not  hence  till  ye 
have  paid  the  uttermost  farthing."  This 
rather  startled  the  revellers,  who,  turning 
to  one  another,  exclaimed, 
169 


"  What  shall  we  do  ?  We  cannot 
pay  so  large  a  sum." 

At  length  one  of  them  observed, 
"  Listen  to  me  *,  I  will  give  you  the  best 
advice.  The  king  of  this  country  has 
decreed  that  whosoever  is  blind  shall  re- 
ceive from  his  treasury  one  hundred 
shillings.  Let  us  then  cast  lots,  and 
upon  whomsoever  the  lot  falls,  we  will 
deprive  him  of  sight,  and  send  him  to 
the  king  for  the  promised  benevolence. 
Thus  we  shall  depart  in  peace." 

They  all  agreed  that  the  counsel  was 
excellent ;  and  casting  lots,  the  chance 
fell  upon  the  contriver  of  the  expedient ; 
whose  eyes  they  immediately  put  out. 
He  was  then  led  to  the  palace.  Arriving 
at  the  gate,  they  knocked  and  were  ad- 
mitted by  the  porter,  who  inquired  their 
business.  The  blind  man  answered,  "  I 
am  one  entitled,  from  my  deficiency  of 
sight,  to  the  benefit  of  the  royal  dona- 
tion." 

"  Well,"  said  the  porter,  "  I  will  in- 
form the  seneschal."  He  went  accord- 
ingly ;  but  the  wary  seneschal  first  deter- 
mined to  examine  his  exterior  before  he 
170 


delivered  the  money.  He  did  so,  and 
then  asked  what  he  wanted.  "  A  hun- 
dred shillings,"  replied  he,  "which  the 
law  gives  to  every  blind  man." 

"  My  friend,"  said  the  seneschal,  "  if 
I  am  not  greatly  mistaken,  I  saw  you 
yesterday  in  a  tavern  with  both  eyes 
perfect.  You  misinterpret  the  law.  It 
relates  to  those  who,  by  some  natural 
infirmity,  or  by  accident,  become  blind 
—  and  against  which  there  was  no  de- 
fence. Such  the  law  protects  and  re- 
lieves. But  you  voluntarily  surrendered 
your  eyes ;  you  drank  away  your  money 
in  a  tavern,  and  planned  this  deceit. 
Seek,  therefore,  consolation  and  relief  in 
the  same  place,  for  you  shall  not  get  a 
halfpenny  here." 

The  blind  man  then  retired  in  great 
confusion  from  the  palace. 


171 


XII. 


THE  SUBTERRANEAN  PALACE 


There  was  an  image  in  the  city  of 
Rome  standing  in  an  erect  posture,  with 
the  dexter  hand  outstretched ;  and  upon 
the  middle  finger  was  written,  "  Strike 
HERE."  The  image  stood  a  long  time 
in  this  manner,  and  no  one  understood 
what  the  inscription  signified.  It  was 
much  wondered  at,  and  commented  on ; 
172 


but    this    was    all,    for   they    invariably 
departed  as  wise  as  they  came. 

At  last,  a  certain  subtle  clerk,  hearing 
of  the  image,  felt  anxious  to  see  it ;  and 
when  he  had  done  so,  he  observed  the 
superscription,  "Strike  here."  He  no- 
ticed that  when  the  sun  shone  upon  the 
image,  the  outstretched  finger  was  dis- 
cernible in  the  lengthened  shadow. 
After  a  little  consideration  he  took  a 
spade,  and  where  the  shadow  ceased,  dug 
to  the  depth  of  about  three  feet.  This 
brought  him  to  a  number  of  steps,  which 
led  into  a  subterranean  cavity.  Not 
a  little  exhilarated  with  his  discovery,  the 
clerk  prosecuted  the  adventure.  De- 
scending the  steps,  he  entered  the  hall 
of  a  magnificent  palace,  in  which  he 
perceived  a  king  and  a  queen  and  many 
nobles  seated  at  table,  and  the  hall  itself 
filled  with  men.  They  were  all  habited  in 
costly  apparel,  and  kept  the  most  rigid 
silence.  Looking  about,  he  beheld  in 
one  corner  of  the  place  a  polished  stone, 
called  a  carbuncle,  by  the  single  aid  of 
which  the  hall  was  lighted.  In  the 
opposite  corner  stood  a  man  armed  with 
173 


a  bow  and  arrow,  in  the  act  of  taking 
aim  at  the  precious  stone.  Upon  his 
brow  was  inscribed,  "  I  am  what  I  am  : 
my  shaft  is  inevitable ;  least  of  all 
can  yon  luminous  carbuncle  escape  its 
stroke." 

The  clerk,  amazed  at  what  he  saw, 
entered  the  bed-chamber,  and  found  a 
multitude  of  beautiful  women  arrayed  in 
purple  garments,  but  not  a  sound  escaped 
them.  From  thence  he  proceeded  to  the 
stables,  and  observed  a  number  of  horses 
and  asses  in  their  stalls.  He  touched 
them,  but  they  were  nothing  but  stone. 
He  visited  all  the  various  buildings  of 
the  palace,  and  whatsoever  his  heart 
desired  was  to  be  found  there.  Return- 
ing to  the  hall,  he  thought  of  making 
good  his  retreat.  "  I  have  seen  wonders 
to-day,"  said  he  to  himself,  "  but  nobody 
will  credit  the  relation,  unless  I  carry 
back  with  me  some  incontrovertible 
testimony." 

Casting  his  eyes  upon  the  highest  table, 

he  beheld  a  quantity  of  golden  cups  and 

beautiful  knives,  which  he  approached, 

and  laid   his  hands  upon  one  of  each, 

174 


designing  to  carry  them  away.  But  no 
sooner  had  he  placed  them  in  his  bosom, 
than  the  archer  struck  the  carbuncle 
with  the  arrow,  and  shivered  it  into  a 
thousand  atoms.  Instantly,  the  whole 
building  was  enveloped  in  thick  darkness, 
and  the  clerk,  in  utter  consternation, 
sought  his  way  back.  But  being  unable, 
in  consequence  of  the  darkness,  to  dis- 
cover it,  he  perished  in  the  greatest 
misery,  amid  the  mysterious  statues  of 
the  palace. 


175 


XIII. 

THE    TWO    THIEVES 

In  the  reign  of  a  certain  emperor, 
there  were  two  thieves  who  bound 
themselves  by  an  oath  'never  to  quit  one 
another  on  any  emergency,  even  though 
death  were  the  alternative.  They  after- 
wards committed  many  depredations,  and 
were,  on  some  occasions,  guilty  of 
murder.  It  happened  that  one  of  them, 
being  caught  in  some  theft,  was  impris- 
oned and  placed  in  fetters.  His  com- 
panion, understanding  what  had  chanced, 
hastened  to  him,  and  said,  "  My  friend, 
by  the  engagement  which  we  have 
formed,  I  adjure  you  to  tell  me  what  I 
can  do  to  serve  you." 

"It  appears,"  answered  the  other, 
"  that  I  must  die,  having  been  taken  in 
176 


the  fact  for  which  I  am  sentenced.  But 
I  will  show  you  how  to  oblige  me. 
Obtain  permission  to  remain  in  my 
place,  while  I  hasten  to  arrange  my 
affairs,  and  provide  for  my  wife  and 
children.  Having  done  this,  I  will  re- 
turn in  due  time  and  liberate  you." 

"  My  friend,"  answered  the  first,  "  I 
will  readily  comply  with  your  wishes." 

He  went  therefore  to  the  judge,  and 
spoke  thus :  "  My  lord,  my  friend  has 
been  thrown  into  prison,  and  condemned 
to  death.  It  seems  that  there  is  no 
chance  for  him  j  let  it  please  you,  then, 
to  permit  him  to  return  home  to  arrange 
the  affairs  of  his  family,  and  I,  in  the 
mean  time,  will  become  his  surety,  and 
remain  in  prison." 

"  On  such  a  day,"  replied  the  judge, 
"  he,  with  some  others,  will  be  executed ; 
if,  upon  that  day,  he  return  not  before  a 
certain  hour,  look  you  to  it :  your  death 
is  inevitable." 

"  My  lord,"  answered  the  man,  "  I  am 
prepared  for  the  worst." 

"  Let  him  go,  then  :  I  consent  to  your 
wishes." 

177 


The  judge  ordered  the  substitute  to  be 
ironed,  and  placed  in  prison  in  the  room 
of  his  friend,  who  immediately  set  out  to 
his  family.  So  long,  however,  did  he 
postpone  his  return,  that  the  day  of 
execution  arrived,  and  his  pledge  was 
unredeemed.  The  latter,  therefore,  was 
brought,  with  many  others,  to  the  seat 
of  judgment. 

"  Where  is  your  friend  ? "  said  the 
judge;  "he  has  not  arrived  to  make 
good  his  word." 

"I  hope  the  best,  my  lord,"  replied 
the  other  J  "I  do  not  think  he  will  fail 
me." 

Some  time  passed  over,  and  still  he 
came  not ;  and  the  prisoner  was  at  length 
conducted  to  the  cross. 

"You  must  attribute  your  death  to 
yourself,"  said  the  judge ;  "  do  not  charge 
it  upon  me.  You  have  rashly  trusted 
to  your  friend,  and  he  has  deceived 
you." 

"My  lord,"   replied    he,  "defer  the 
crucifixion  but  for  a  moment,  and  suffer 
me  to  play  upon   an   instrument   three 
times  before  my  death." 
178 


"  Play  !  "  exclaimed  the  judge ;  "  of 
what  nature  is  that  playing  ?  " 

"  I  will  shout,  my  lord." 

"  As  you  please." 

Accordingly  he  began  to  vociferate. 
He  shouted  loudly  once,  twice,  and  at 
the  third  shout  he  distinguished,  at  some 
distance,  a  man  running  toward  them 
with  surprising  velocity. 

"  My  lord  !  my  lord  !  there  is  a  man 
coming  ;  stay  the  execution  —  perhaps 
it  is  my  friend,  and  I  shall  yet  be 
liberated ! " 

The  judge  waited,  and  the  person 
they  looked  for  made  his  appearance. 

"  I  am  the  man  you  expect,"  he  ex- 
claimed. "  I  have  arranged  my  affairs, 
and  meanwhile  my  friend  has  been  in 
peril  of  death  for  me;  let  him  now 
freely  depart,  for  I  am  ready  to  suffer 
death  for  my  crimes." 

The  judge  regarded  him  for  a  few 
moments  with  attention,  and  then  said, 
"My  friend,  tell  me  whence  it  comes 
that  you  are  so  faithful  to  one  another  ?  " 

"  My  lord,"  he  replied,  "  from  our 
youth  up  we  have  been  friends,  and  ever 
179 


pledged  ourselves  to  be  faithful.  For 
this  reason  he  put  himself  in  my  place 
till  I  settled  my  affairs." 

"  Well,"  said  the  judge,  "  because  of 
this  remarkable  instance  of  fidelity,  I 
pardon  you.  Remain  with  me,  and  I 
will  provide  all  things  necessary  for  your 
well-being." 

They  returned  thanks  to  the  judge, 
and  promised  equal  fidelity  to  him.  He 
then  received  them  to  favour;  and  all 
praised  the  judge  who  showed  them  this 
mercy. 


1 80 


XIV. 


THE    knight's    injustice 


In  the  reign  of  the  Emperor  Maximian 
there  were  two  knights,  of  whom  one 
feared  God  and  loved  justice,  while  the 
other  was  covetous  and  rich,  and  more 
studious  of  pleasing  the  world  than  his 
Maker.  Contiguous  to  this  person's 
lands,  the  just  knight  had  a  piece  of 
ground,  which  his  avaricious  neighbour 
ardently  desired  to  possess.  He  offered 
large  sums  for  it ;  but  being  denied,  he 
was  filled  with  vexation.  It  happened, 
i8i 


however,  that  the  just  knight  died;  on 
hearing  which,  the  other  forged  an 
instrument  purporting  to  be  written  by 
the  deceased  knight. 

It  stated  that  the  land  in  question  had 
been  sold  for  a  specified  sum  a  short 
time  previous  to  his  death;  and  three 
men  were  hired  to  attest  it.  Having,  by 
some  means,  obtained  access  to  the  dead 
knight,  he  introduced  the  witnesses ;  and 
finding  his  signet  in  the  hall  where  he 
lay,  took  it,  and,  fixing  it  upon  the  thumb 
of  the  deceased,  sealed  the  paper  with 
the  usual  formalities. 

"  You  are  witnesses  of  this  deed  ? " 
said  he  to  the  men  who  accompanied 
him. 

"  We  are,"  answered  they ;  and  then 
making  good  their  retreat,  the  knight 
seized  upon  the  land.  The  son  of  the 
deceased  complained  grievously  of  this 
injustice. 

"  Why  have  you  taken  possession  of 
my  land  ?  "  asked  he. 

"  It  was  sold  to  me  by  your  father." 

"  Impossible,"  cried  the  other ;  "  my 
father  many  times  refused  to  sell  it ;  and 
182 


that  he  afterwards  did  so,  I  will  never 
believe." 

They  both  went  before  the  judge; 
and  the  covetous  knight  triumphantly 
produced  the  forged  instrument,  bearing 
the  impression  of  the  deceased's  signet- 
ring,  and  brought  forward  the  false  wit- 
nesses to  the  sealing.  After  examining 
it,  the  son  said,  "  I  know  that  this  is  my 
father's  signet,  but  I  know  also  that  he 
never  disposed  of  the  land.  How  you 
obtained  the  signet  and  these  witnesses, 
I  am  ignorant." 

The  judge,  after  some  deliberation, 
took  each  of  the  witnesses  aside  in  turn ; 
and  separately  examined  them,  together 
with  the  knight.  He  asked  the  eldest  if 
he  knew  the  Lord's  Prayer,  and  made 
him  repeat  it  from  beginning  to  end.  He 
did  this  accurately,  and  was  then  placed 
apart.  When  the  second  witness  ap- 
peared, the  judge  said, "  My  friend,  your 
companion  has  told  me  facts  as  true  as 
the  Lord's  Prayer ;  therefore,  unless  you 
inform  me  what  I  demand,  you  shall 
instantly  hang  upon  a  cross." 

The  fellow,  imagining  that  his  comrade 

J83 


had  revealed  the  fraud,  confessed  how 
they  had  obtained  the  seal  to  the  doc- 
ument. When  the  communication  was 
made,  he  placed  him  apart;  and  sending 
for  the  third,  spoke  to  him  as  to  the 
other,  and  threatened  him  with  the  like 
penalty,  unless  he  declared  the  fact. 
This  man,  therefore,  corroborated  his 
companion's  account,  and  was  then 
stationed  by  himself. 

The  old  knight  was  then  called ;  and 
the  judge,  putting  on  a  stern  aspect, 
spoke  thus  :  "  Wretched  man  !  thy  avarice 
hath  blinded  thee.  Tell  me  how  the 
deceased  knight  sold  you  the  land." 

The  culprit,  not  divining  that  the 
truth  had  been  discovered,  boldly  per- 
severed in  the  account  he  had  before 
given. 

"  Foolish  man  !  "  answered  the  judge, 
"  thy  own  witnesses  accuse  thee.  Didst 
thou  not  place  the  signet  on  the  dead 
man's  thumb,  and  sign  the  paper  ? " 

When  the  knight  found  that  his  for- 
gery was  revealed,  he  fell  prostrate  upon 
the  earth,  and  entreated  mercy. 

"Such  mercy  as  thou  meritest,  thou 
184 


shalt  have,"  said  the  judge  :  "  bear  them 
away,  and  drag  them  at  the  tails  of 
horses  to  the  cross,  upon  which  let  them 
be  immediately  suspended," 

The  noblemen  of  the  kingdom  ap- 
plauded the  sentence,  not  less  than  the 
ingenuity  of  the  investigation.  The  prop- 
erty of  the  unjust  knight  was  conferred 
upon  the  son  of  him  whom  he  had  wished 
to  wrong ;  the  young  man  gave  thanks  to 
the  king,  and  possessed  his  inheritance  in 
peace. 


185 


XV. 

THE    emperor's     JUSTICE 

The  Emperor  Heraclius,  amongst 
many  other  virtues,  was  remarkable  for 
his  inflexible  justice.  It  happened  that 
a  certain  man  accused  a  knight  of  the 
murder  of  another  knight,  in  this  form  :  — 
"  They  two  went  out,  in  company  with 
another,  to  war;  but  no  battle  was 
fought.  He,  however,  returned  without 
his  companion  ;  and,  therefore,  we  be- 
lieve that  he  murdered  him." 

The  king  appeared  satisfied  with  the 
inference,  and  commanded  the  prisoner 
to  be  executed.  But  as  they  approached 
the  place  of  execution,  they  beheld  the 
lost  knight  advancing  towards  them,  alive 
and  well.  The  judge,  enraged  at  this 
interruption  of  the  sentence,  said  to  the 


accused,  "  I  order  you  to  be  put  to  death, 
because  you  are  already  condemned." 
Then  turning  to  the  accuser,  "  And  you 
also,  because  you  are  the  cause  of  his 
death."  "  And  you,  too,"  addressing  the 
restored  knight  —  "  because  you  were 
sent  to  kill  a  knight,  and  you  did  not." 


187 


mMmn. 


XVI. 


THE    KNIGHT   AND    THE    SERPENT 

In  the  reign  of  the  Emperor  Fulgen- 
tius,  a  certain  knight,  named  Zedechias, 
married  a  very  beautiful  but  imprudent 
wife.  In  a  certain  chamber  of  their 
mansion  a  serpent  dwelt.  Now,  the 
knight's  vehement  inclination  for  tourna- 
ments and  jousting  brought  him  to  ex- 
treme poverty  :  he  grieved  immoderately, 
and,  like  one  who  was  desperate,  walked 
backward  and  forward,  ignorant  of  what 
he  should  do.  'The  serpent,  beholding 
his  misery,  like  the  ass  of  Balaam,  was 
i88 


on  that  occasion  miraculously  gifted  with 
a  voice,  and  said  to  the  knight,  "  Why 
do  you  lament  ?  Take  my  advice,  and 
you  shall  not  repent  it.  Supply  me 
every  day  with  a  certain  quantity  of 
sweet  milk,  and  I  will  enrich  you." 
This  promise  exhilarated  the  knight, 
and  he  faithfully  followed  the  instructions 
of  his  subtle  friend.  The  consequence 
was  that  he  had  a  beautiful  son,  and 
became  exceedingly  wealthy.  But  it 
happened  that  his  wife  one  day  said 
to  him, 

"  My  lord,  I  am  sure  that  serpent  has 
great  riches  hidden  In  the  chamber  where 
he  dwells.  Let  us  kill  him  and  get  pos- 
session of  the  whole." 

The  advice  pleased  the  knight,  and  at 
the  request  of  his  wife  he  took  a  hammer 
to  destroy  the  serpent,  and  a  vessel  of 
milk.  Allured  by  the  milk,  it  put  its 
head  out  of  the  hole,  as  it  had  been  ac- 
customed ;  and  the  knight  lifted  the  ham- 
mer to  strike  it.  The  serpent,  observing 
his  perfidy,  suddenly  drew  back  its  head ; 
and  the  blow  fell  upon  the  vessel.  No 
sooner  had  he  done  this,  than  his  ofF- 
189 


spring  died,  and  he  lost  everything  that 
he  formerly  possessed.  The  wife,  taught 
by  their  common  loss,  said  to  him, 
"  Alas  !  I  have  ill  counselled  you ;  but 
go  now  to  the  hole  of  the  serpent,  and 
humbly  acknowledge  your  offence.  Per- 
adventure  you  may  find  grace." 

The  knight  complied,  and  standing 
before  the  dwelling-place  of  the  serpent, 
shed  many  tears,  and  entreated  that  he 
might  once  more  be  made  rich. 

"  I  see,"  answered  the  serpent,  "  I  see 
now  that  you  are  a  fool,  and  will  always 
be  a  fool.  For  how  can  I  forget  that 
blow  of  the  hammer  which  you  designed 
me,  for  which  reason  I  slew  your  son 
and  took  away  your  wealth?  There 
can  be  no  real  peace  between  us." 

The  knight,  full  of  sorrow,  replied 
thus :  "  I  promise  the  most  unshaken 
fidelity,  and  will  never  meditate  the 
slightest  injury,  provided  I  may  this  once 
obtain  your  grace." 

"  My  friend,"  said  the  serpent,  "  it  is 

the  nature  of  my  species  to  be  subtle  and 

venomous.     Let  what  I  have  said  suffice. 

The  blow  offered  at  my  head  is  fresh 

190 


upon  my  recollection ;  get  you  gone 
before  you  receive  an  injury." 

The  knight  departed  in  great  affliction, 
saying  to  his  wife,  "  Fool  that  1  was  to 
take  thy  counsel !  " 

But  ever  afterwards  they  lived  in  the 
greatest  indigence. 


191 


XVII. 

THE    king's    forest 

A  CERTAIN  powerful  king  planted  a 
forest,  and  surrounded  it  with  a  wall. 
He  stocked  it  with  various  animals,  in 
which  he  took  infinite  pleasure.  It  hap- 
pened that  one  being  discovered  meditat- 
ing traitorous  designs,  his  property  was 
confiscated,  and  himself  banished  the 
land.  This  person,  therefore,  provided 
various  kinds  of  dogs  and  nets,  and  went 
privately  into  the  royal  forest  to  take  and 
destroy  the  animals  which  it  contained. 
The  names  of  his  dogs  were  Richer, 
Emuleym,  HanegifF,  Baudyn,  Crismel, 
Egofyn,  Beamis,  and  Renelen.  By  means 
of  these  dogs  and  the  nets  he  destroyed 
every  animal  in  the  forest. 

The  king  was  greatly  enraged  ^t  this 
192 


circumstance,  and  said  to  his  son,  "  My 
dear  son,  arm  yourself;  call  out  the 
troops,  and  slay  this  traitor,  or  drive 
him  from  the  kingdom."  The  youth 
answered,  "  I  am  ready  to  comply  with 
your  wishes ;  but  as  I  have  heard  that  he 
is  a  man  of  exceeding  prowess,  it  would 
be  advisable  to  conceal  myself  for  a  cer- 
tain time,  in  company  with  a  beautiful 
girl,  whose  wisdom  surpasses  that  of  all 
others.  I  will  converse  with  her,  and 
then  prepare  myself  for  battle." 

The  father  replied,  "  Go  to  the  castle 
Varioch;  there  you  will  find  a  girl  of 
inimitable  prudence.  By  her  means,  you 
may  send  a  defiance  to  our  enemy,  and  I 
will  then  promote  her  to  many  honours." 

This  heard,  the  son  entered  the  castle 
secretly,  and  was  received  by  the  lady 
with  great  joy.  He  remained  there  some 
time,  and  then  departed,  armed  with  the 
power  of  his  father,  against  the  traitorous 
despoiler  of  the  royal  forest.  In  the  end 
he  overthrew  him,  cut  ofFhis  head,  and 
returned  in  triumph  to  the  king's  palace. 


193 


XVIII. 


THE    KING  S    MELANCHOLY 


A  KING  made  a  law,  by  which  whoso- 
ever was  suddenly  to  be  put  to  death  in 
the  morning,  before  sunrise  should  be 
saluted  with  songs  and  trumpets,  and, 
arrayed  in  black  garments,  should  receive 
judgment.  This  king  made  a  great  feast, 
and  convoked  all  the  nobles  of  his  king- 
dom, who  appeared  accordingly.  The 
194 


most  skilful  musicians  were  assembled, 
and  there  was  much  sweet  melody.  But 
the  sovereign  was  discontented  and  out 
of  humour  J  his  countenance  expressed 
intense  sorrow,  and  sighs  and  groans 
ascended  from  his  heart.  The  courtiers 
were  all  amazed,  but  none  had  the 
hardihood  to  inquire  the  cause  of  his 
sadness. 

At  last  they  requested  the  king's 
brother  to  ask  the  cause  of  his  sorrow ; 
he  made  known  to  him  the  surprise  of 
his  guests,  and  entreated  that  he  might 
understand  the  occasion  of  his  grief. 

"  Go  home  now,"  answered  the  king ; 
"^to-morrow  you  shall  know." 

This  was  done.  Early  in  the  morn- 
ing the  king  directed  the  trumpets  to 
sound  before  his  brother's  house,  and  the 
guards  to  bring  him  to  the  court.  The 
brother,  greatly  alarmed  at  the  sounding 
of  the  trumpets,  arose,  and  put  on  sable 
vesture.  When  he  came  before  the  king, 
the  latter  commanded  a  deep  pit  to  be 
dug,  and  a  rotten  chair  with  four  decayed 
feet  to  be  slightly  suspended  over  it.  In 
this  chair  he  made  his  brother  sit ;  above 


his  head  he  caused  a  sword  to  hang,  at- 
tached to  a  single  silk  thread ;  and  four 
men,  each  armed  with  an  extremely  sharp 
sword,  to  stand  near  him,  one  before 
and  one  behind,  a  third  on  the  right 
hand,  and  the  fourth  on  the  left.  When 
they  were  thus  placed,  the  king  said, 
"  The  moment  I  give  the  word,  strike 
him  to  the  heart." 

Trumpets  and  all  other  kind  of  mu- 
sical instruments  were  brought,  and  a 
table,  covered  with  various  dishes,  was 
set  before  him. 

"My  dear  brother,"  said  the  king, 
"  what  is  the  occasion  of  your  sorrow  ? 
Here  are  the  greatest  delicacies  —  the 
most  enrapturing  harmony  ;  why  do  you 
not  rejoice  ? " 

"  How  can  I  rejoice  ?  "  answered  he. 
"  In  the  morning  trumpets  sounded  for  my 
death ;  and  I  am  now  placed  upon  a  fragile 
chair :  if  I  move  ever  so  little  it  will  fall 
to  pieces,  and  I  shall  fall  into  the  pit 
and  never  come  out  again.  If  I  raise 
my  head,  the  weapon  above  will  pene- 
trate to  my  brain.  Besides  this,  the 
four  torturers  around  stand  ready  to  kill 
196 


me  at  your  bidding.  These  things  con- 
sidered, were  I  lord  of  the  universe,  I 
could  not  rejoice." 

"  Now,  then,"  answered  the  king,  "  I 
will  reply  to  your  question  of  yesterday. 
I  am  on  my  throne,  as  you  on  that  frail 
chair.  For  my  body  is  its  emblem, 
supported  by  four  decayed  feet,  that  is, 
by  the  four  elements.  The  pit  below 
me  is  hell ;  above  my  head  is  the  sword 
of  divine  justice,  ready  to  take  life  from 
my  body.  Before  me  is  the  sword  of 
death,  which  spares  none,  and  comes 
when  it  is  not  expected ;  behind,  a  sword 
—  that  is,  my  sins,  ready  to  accuse  me 
at  the  tribunal  of  God.  The  weapon  on 
the  right  hand  is  the  devil ;  and  that  on 
the  left  is  the  worms  which  after  death 
shall  gnaw  my  body.  And,  considering 
all  these  circumstances,  how  can  I  re- 
joice ?  If  you  to-day  feared  me,  who 
am  mortal,  how  much  more  ought  I  to 
dread  my  Creator  ?  Go,  dearest  brother, 
and  be  careful  that  you  do  not  again  ask 
such  questions." 

The  brother  rose  from  his  unpleasant 
seat,  and  rendering  thanks  to  the  king 
197 


for  his  life,  firmly  resolved  to  amend 
himself.  All  who  were  present  com- 
mended the  ingenuity  of  the  royal  an- 
swer. 


THE    END. 


STAMPED  LloV'^^^^A^E 

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OVERDUE.  °°    ^'^    THE    SEVENTH     DAY 


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